Typhoon Vamco - Nov 2020

Typhoon Vamco/Ulysses lashed the main island of Luzon in the Philippines on 11-12 November, whipping destructive winds and dumping torrential rainfall over a wide area, triggering extensive flooding in several areas, including Metro Manila, and which has led to further displacement and increased the hardship of vulnerable people. Heavy rains affected the Bicol provinces where flooding incidents were reported in 37 municipalities. Catanduanes, which was the worst-hit province by Typhoon Goni, experienced flash floods and landslides. The provincial governor lamented that response efforts are back to zero as house repairs and temporary shelters were again destroyed. (OCHA, 12 Nov 2020)

Typhoon Vamco is the Philippines' 21st tropical cyclone for 2020. Still suffering from Super Typhoon Goni, Bicol was the first to face Typhoon Vamco's winds and rain, as the typhoon triggered floods in parts of the region. The island province of Catanduanes and provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, that bore the brunt of Typhoon Goni in late October. However, the main impact of the typhoon was to Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces. The densely populated capital region of Metro Manila, though not directly hit by the center of the typhoon, is also affected with floods, fallen trees and power cables down leading to power outages across different cities. Nearby dams are closed to spilling, which could aggravate flooding. Airline flights and mass transit in the capital were suspended while the coast guard stopped port operations. Government work was suspended, and financial markets were shut. Hundreds of residents were forced to flee their homes on Thursday as water in Marikina River surpassed the peak level during the onslaught of Typhoon Vamco. (IFRC, 14 Nov 2020)

In the Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reports a total of 1,730,458 people affected as of 15 November 2020. A total of 324,363 individuals are displaced in 2,980 evacuation centres. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirms 67 deaths, 21 injured and 15 missing persons. More provinces have been increasingly affected. The flood in the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon continues to rise as its major river systems have risen above critical levels as of morning of 15 November. Thousands of families in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela remain stranded on top of their houses waiting for rescue. Clearing operations and relief assistance continue to be difficult in Marikina City, Rizal, Laguna, Aurora and Quezon provinces, where Vamco has displaced population since 13 November. The local government units of these areas have asked for immediate life-saving and relief assistance. (ECHO, 15 Nov 2020)

In Viet Nam, VAMCO (Storm No. 13) made landfall on 15 November as a Category 1 storm over Ha Thinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue Provinces with wind speeds of up to 100 kph. According to the National Hydrometeorological Forecast Center (NHFC) as of 15 November it is moving inland in a north-west direction toward the Laos border, and is forecast to reduce intensity to tropical depression. Those provinces affected by TC VAMCO are the same areas already bearing the impact of multiple storms and floods that have struck Viet Nam since the beginning of October. This latest storm will exacerbate the situation further and increase the vulnerabilities and needs of affected communities. (UNCT Viet Nam, 15 Nov 2020) According to the Authorities of Vietnam, five people have been injured (two in Quang Tri Province and three in Quang Nam Province) more than 325,000 people have been evacuated and 55 communes remained without electricity in Quang Binh Province. (ECHO, 16 Nov 2020)

Following the passage of VAMCO over central Luzon (northern Philippines) on 11 November, the number of deaths stands at 67 and more than 2,700,000 people have been affected. 569,047 individuals are displaced, 304,065 (DSWD) are in evacuation centres and 265,001 (DSWD) are staying at relatives. (ECHO, 16 Nov 2020)

As of 23 November, more than 200,000 people remain displaced, of which at least 139,000 people are being served inside 670 evacuation centers while approximately 83,000 people are being served outside evacuation centers. (Govt., of the Philippines, 23 Nov 2020)

As of 26 November, at least 4,288,000 people in 6,717 barangays in Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, NCR, and CAR have been affected. Of which, more than 100,000 people are being served inside 467 evacuation centers while approximately 83,000 persons are being served outside evacuation centers. (Govt., of the Philippines, 26 Nov 2020)

At least 905,000 people are in need of assistance across Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Bicol Region after typhoons Goni and Vamco affected the Philippines in mid-November. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), more than 367,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed and about 33,300 people remain displaced and are hosted with families or in evacuation centres, as of 25 November. In support of the government-led response, the UN and humanitarian partners released a revised response plan, seeking US$52.6 million to assist 278,000 of the most-affected people in the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and Cagayan with food, access to clean water, sanitation-hygiene facilities, emergency shelter, livelihood, health and early recovery. (OCHA, 30 Nov 2020)

More than 55,000 children and their families were affected by typhoons Goni and Vamco in the Bicol and Cagayan Valley Regions and at least 46,800 people remain displaced in Bicol Region. Over 12,000 persons with disability are living in hard-toreach areas in Camarines Sur, Cagayan and Catanduanes Provinces. Economic setbacks brought by the successive typhoons resulted in further food insecurity and lack of livelihood opportunities, increasing protection risks and vulnerability to negative coping mechanisms. (OCHA, 9 Dec 2020)

As of 17 December, at least 5,140,000 people are affected in more than 7,000 barangays in Regions NCR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V and CAR (see Table 1). There are approximately 26,000 people currently taking temporary shelter in 185 evacuation centers in Regions NCR, II, III, CALABARZON, and V and 115 people staying with their relatives and/or friends in Regions II, CALABARZON, V and CAR. (Govt. of the Philippines, 17 Dec 2020)

At least 30,000 people remain displaced from Typhoons Goni and Vamco and are staying in 181 evacuation centres across Regions NCR, II, III, CALABARZON, and V. Four evacuation centres remain open in Albay. (OCHA, 22 Dec 2020)

As of 05 December, at least 5,201,000 people were affected in 7,311 barangays in Regions NCR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V and CAR. There are more than 23,700 people currently taking temporary shelter in 169 evacuation centers in Regions NCR, II, III, CALABARZON, and V. There are approximately 100 people temporarily staying with their relatives and/or friends in Regions II, CALABARZON, V, and CAR. (Govt. of the Philippines, 5 Jan 2021)

As of 12 January, more than 5,191,000 people were affected in 7,287 barangays in Regions NCR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V and CAR. There are at least 20,800 people currently taking temporary shelter in 145 evacuation centers in Regions NCR, II, CALABARZON, and V, and approximately 100 persons temporarily staying with their relatives and/or friends in Regions II, V and CAR. (Govt. of the Philippines, 12 Jan 2021)

Recovery efforts led by the Government of the Philippines are underway to support families affected by typhoons Rolly (Goni) and Ulysses (Vamco) in the regions of Bicol and Cagayan Valley. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports that agricultural losses and damage from the typhoons amount to US$194 million (PHP 9.3 billion). (WFP, 11 Feb 2021)

As of 19 April, at least 9,732 people (2,517 families) are staying in 85 evacuation centers in Regions NCR, II, CALABARZON, and V, and approximately 103 people (34 families) temporarily staying with their relatives and/or friends in Regions II, V and CAR. (Govt. of the Philippines, 19 Apr 2021)