Philippines: Floods and Landslides - Jun 2019

Heavy rainfall has been affecting Maguindanao Province (Mindanao Island, southern Philippines) since 6 June, resulting in flooding in Datu Salibo and Sultan sa Barongis municipalities. At least 45,000 people have been displaced according to the national authorities. The Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) is providing emergency assistance to the affected families. (ECHO, 18 Jun 2019)

On 1 July 2019, Tropical Cyclone FOUR will continue north-west over the Philippine Sea before dissipating into a tropical depression(later named "EGAY"). (ECHO, 1 Jul 2019) As of 3 July 2019, local authorities reported a total of 244 people affected in 4 Barangays in the two Provinces of Region III. Currently, a total of 82 people are being served inside two evacuation centers. (Govt. of Philippines, 3 Jul 2019)

Typhoon Lekima (Hanna) entered the Philippines Area of Responsibility from 3 August to 9 August. It did not made landfall but enhanced the Southwest Monsoon that brought moderate to heavy rainfall to the country causing flooding and landslides. 163,000 people have been affected and 1,900 people are in evacuation centers. (OCHA, 15 Aug 2019)

Northern provinces and Metro Manila have been hit by floods and landlsides following heavy monsoon rains compounded by Tropical Cyclone Bailu (local name Inday). Rains left densely populated areas of Metro Manila in knee-high floods, while flash floods and landslides in northern and central Luzon on 24-25 August affected thousands and left two people dead. The province of Ilocos Norte bore the brunt of the torrential rains, causing widespread flooding, displaced communities, inundated farmlands and drowned livestock. According to government reports, 241 families remain displaced and are taking refuge in evacuation centers or hosted by relatives and friends. The provincial government of Ilocos Norte hase declared a state of calamity to access funds to support response and early recovery efforts. (OCHA, 26 Aug 2019)

Tropical Cyclone PODUL (JENNY in the Philippines) made landfall over Casiguran City (Aurora Province, northern Luzon) on 27 August. On 28 August at 0.00 UTC, its centre was approximately 1,000 km east of Hainan Island (China), with maximum sustained winds of 64 km/h. The Government of the Philippines reports 2 fatalities and 2 injured persons in Pasuquin and Laoag City (Ilocos Norte, northern Philippines). (ECHO, 28 Aug 2019)

Between 12-14 September, Tropical Depression Marilyn brought moderate to heavy rains and flooding between in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga, Davao and Soccksargen regions. People were evacuated as flooding and high tides damaged homes and causes rivers to overflow, rendering bridges impassable in the northern and central Philippines. Strong winds and high waves in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces in the Mindanao region also caused people to evacuate, with over 8,400 people in the Zamboanga, Davao and Soccksargen regions affected. Of the total, over 6,000 people are displaced, with a majority staying in ten evacuation centres. (OCHA, 16 Sep 2019)

As of 23 September, the effects of Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Depression (TD) Marilyn affected more than 3,000 families/15,000 people from 32 barangays of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces. More than 6,800 people are still displaced in which 500 people are staying in five evacuation centres (ECs) while 6,350 people are taking shelter with host families. There are 199 damaged houses of which 44 are totally damaged. Local authorities continue to provide food and relief assistance. (OCHA, 25 Sep 2019)

On 5 November, a weather depression in West Philippines Sea (near the west coast of Palawan province, Philippines) developed and intensified into Typhoon NAKRI. Forecasts showed that the track is heading to east Viet Nam on 10 November 2019 and expected to weaken as a minor tropical storm or a depression that will be affected by the strong wind shear. The NDRRMC reported occurrences of landslides, soil erosion, flooding and strong waves hitting the western coast of Luzon due to persistent heavy rains. 220 Barangays (villages) in 22 Municipalities are currently affected, 72% of these are in Cagayan province, north of Luzon, Philippines. NDRRMC also reported that a total of over USD 48,000 worth of assistance were provided by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units to the affected families and the situation is within the national government’s capacity. (AHA Centre, 10 Nov 2019)

New Tropical Cyclone RAMON formed over the Philippine Sea on 12 November, moving north-west. On 13 November at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 400 km east of Samar Island (Eastern Visayas Region, central-eastern Philippines), with maximum sustained winds of 56 km/h (tropical depression). RAMON will continue north-west towards northern Philippines strengthening as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds up to 74 km/h. Moderate to heavy rain with isolated thunderstorms are forecast over north and central-east parts of the country. The Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued a tropical storm warning for Eastern Visayas and Bicol Regions. (ECHO, 13 Nov 2019)

Tropical Cyclone KALMAEGI (RAMON in the Philippines) is strengthening as it moves north-west towards the northern Philippines. On 14 November at 0.00 UTC, its centre was approximately 380 km east of Bulusan Town (south-east Luzon Island), with maximum sustained winds of 56 km/h (tropical depression). KALMAEGI will continue north-west towards the northern Philippines with maximum sustained winds up to 83 km/h and is expected to make landfall between 17 and 18 November. For the next 24 hours, light to moderate and intermittent heavy rain is expected across central-east and north-east regions of Luzon (Bicol, Calabarzon, and Cagayan Valley) and Samar Islands. A tropical storm warning is in effect over Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley. (ECHO, 14 Nov 2019)

15 November saw Camarines Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) record more than 50 barangays affected by heavy flooding. Over 850 families, or 3,300 individuals, were forced out of their homes, staying at various evacuation areas to ensure their safety. (Govt. of the Philippines, 18 Nov 2019)

Tropical Cyclone KALMAEGI (RAMON in the Philippines) made landfall in the northern coast of Luzon Island on 19 November and continued moving inland south-west. On 20 November at 00:00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 9 km north of Tabuk City, with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h. According to NDRRMC, as of 20 November, 5,058 people have been displaced, of which 4,972 evacuated in 91 evacuation centres, and 10,459 affected. KALMAEGI will continue moving inland across northern Luzon Island, weakening with maximum sustained wind up to 75 km/h. Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone FUNG-WONG (SARAH in the Philippines), formed over the Philippine Sea on 17 November, is moving west-northwest towards the Batanes Island. On 20 November at 00:00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 600 km north-east of Daet Municipality with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h. FUNG-WONG will continue moving north-west towards northern Philippines with maximum sustained winds up to 100 km/h. Heavy rain is forecast for northern-central Luzon, Batanes and Babuyan Islands (ECHO, 20 Nov 2019).

Only a day afterwards, and over 12,000 have been affected by Tropical Cyclone KALMAEGI (RAMON in the Philippines), resulting in over 9,300 being evacuated. More than 8,000 people are being housed across 156 shelters. Almost 20 houses have been damaged from the Tropical Cyclone, while 8 roads and 7 bridges have been closed. (ECHO, 21 Nov 2019).

As of 29 November, records showed that approximately 31,000 people had been affected by Typhoon Kalmagi (Ramon), while 138,000 additional individuals had been affected by Typhoon Nakri (Quiel). This figured at almost 170,000 people who had been affected by typhoons in the Philippines near the end of November. (OCHA, 29 Nov 2019)

Late evening on 2 December, Typhoon Kammuri (locally named Tisoy) made landfall as a Category 3 typhoon near the city of Gubat in Sorsogon province, where maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour were recorded. On 3 December, the eye of the typhoon carried sustained winds of up to 175 kph hour and gustiness of up to 240 kph as the system moved westward picking up speed and making further landfalls across central Philippines, in Masbate, Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro. The storms resulted in the cancellation of over 500 domestic and international flights, while initial assessments indicate some 4,000 houses were partially and totally damaged in areas of Sorsogon where the typhoon made initial landfall. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the government is now supporting over 495,000 people (123,000 families) in need of assistance, of which over 458,000 (114,000 families) are temporarily displaced and staying in evacuation centres. Reports say that piped water supply is unavailable due to absence of electric power and flooding, while more than 860 municipalities/cities cancelled classes in public and private schools at all levels. UNICEF estimates some 300,000 children living in affected areas may be at risk and in need of assistance. In terms of local agricultural production, approximately 14,600 hectares of land has been affected, with an estimated production loss of some 18,500 metric tons. (OCHA, 4 Dec 2019)

While Tropical Cyclone Kammuri (Tisoy in the Philippines) continues to weaken as it moves south-west over the South China Sea, the government has announced that the current death toll stands at 13 (7 in Mimaropa, 4 in Eastern Visayas and 2 in Calabarzon) and 34 people have been injured. At least 387,300 have been displaced (of which over 364,000 are sheltered in more than 2,700 government designated evacuation centres) and approximately 495,400 people affected. Almost 8,750 houses have been reported damaged, in addition to 135 schools. Around 20 roads and 20 bridges have also been closed. (ECHO, 5 Dec 2019)