Typhoon Molave - Oct 2020

Tropical Cyclone MOLAVE (QUINTA in the Philippines) made landfall over southern Luzon close to Lagazpi City on 25 October as a typhoon. On 26 October, its centre was 43 km west of Mindoro with maximum sustained wind of 139 km/h. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than 9,000 people have been evacuated across the Bicol and CAR regions. One person is reported missing in Batangas Province (Calabarzon region). Floods, landslides, power outages and evacuations have affected different parts of the country. More than 100,000 people were evacuated yesterday from Albay (Bicol region). People were also evacuated from Mimaropa and Calabarzon regions. Local government actors are providing relief assistance. Typhoon MOLAVE is forecast to strengthen as it moves west-northwest and to make landfall over central Vietnam early on 28 October. Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over most parts the of Calabarzon, Mindoro, Bicol and Central Luzon. Extreme flood warnings have been issued across Eastern Visayas and Bicol. (ECHO, 26 Oct 2020)

Typhoon MOLAVE is moving towards central Vietnam, its centre was 450 km east Qui Nhon City (Dinh Province, central Vietnam) on 27 October at 6.00 UTC with maximum sustained winds of 204 km/h. In the Philippines, National authorities report 1 fatality and 1 missing person in Negros Oriental Province (Central Visayas) following the passage of MOLAVE over the central Philippines. Over 30,100 evacuees are sheltering in 405 centres. At least 109,000 people have been affected in the Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions. Typhoon MOLAVE is forecast to make landfall over southern Quang Ngai Province (central Vietnam) on 27 October, close to Tropical Storms SAUDEL and LINFA's trajectories and authorities are evacuating up to 1,300,000 people. (ECHO, 27 Oct 2020)

After Typhoon MOLAVE's passage over the central Philippines, nine people have died, six are injured and two are still missing. More than 56,300 people were evacuated and 209,457 affected. (ECHO, 28 Oct 2020)

Typhoon MOLAVE made landfall in the morning of 28 October as Category 1. The Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) reports 374,600 people evacuated, and forecasts 150-400 mm rainfall between 28-29 October in Hue-Phu Yen and North Central Highlands, 500-700 mm between 28-31 October in South Nghe Anh and Ha Thin, and 200-400mm in Quang Binh and Quang Tri. The army has mobilized troops and vehicles for search and rescue missions. (UNCT Viet Nam, 28 Oct 2020)

Storm Molave, which today battered Viet Nam’s central coastal region, is one of the strongest storms to hit the country in 20 years, according to the country’s meteorological agency. Molave struck areas and populations already suffering from cascading flood events and adding new areas to the list of communities facing emergencies. The storm is causing extreme rainfall in the region which is predicted to continue over the coming days, worsening the already precarious situation faced by many families. A rapid assessment of existing flooded regions, conducted at the end of last week, identified 1.5 million children at risk and this latest storm escalates the numbers at risk to well over 2.5 million children. (UNICEF, 29 Oct 2020)

MOLAVE made landfall on the morning of 28 October between Quang Ngai and Quang Nam provinces (central Vietnam) as a typhoon before dissipating on 29 October. According to media reports, landslides triggered by heavy rain in Quang Nam Province resulted in 15 fatalities, with 40 missing. More than 374,000 people have been evacuated. Millions were left without electricity and 56,000 houses damaged. 26 fishermen are missing after the boats sank. In Cambodia, 121 cities and districts in 20 out of 25 provinces have been affected. At least 44 are dead and 175,872 families affected. In the Philippines, the death toll has risen to 16, with 4 missing. 77,000 people have been evacuated and more than 242,000 affected in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas. Heavy rain will persist over central Vietnam, southern Laos, northern Cambodia and eastern Thailand, with flash flood and landslide warnings for central Vietnam. (ECHO, 29 Oct 2020)

As of 7 December, at least 1,012,000 people in the Philippines are affected by Typhoon Molave in 3,078 barangays in Regions III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII and VIII. Of which approximately 1,400 people is currently taking temporary shelter in 19 evacuation centers in Regions III and VI and more than 4,700 people is currently staying with their relatives and/or friends in Regions III and V. (Govt. of the Philippines, 7 Dec 2020)