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Philippines

DSWD DROMIC Report #59 on Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” and Super Typhoon “Leon” as of 28 November 2024, 6PM

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I. Situation Overview

On 20 October 2024 at 4:00 AM, the trough of a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) caused cloudy skies, accompanied by scattered rains and thunderstorms, potentially triggering flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rainfall. Affected areas included Zamboanga Peninsula, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), SOCCSKSARGEN, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Palawan, Aurora, and Quezon.

By 5:00 PM on 21 October, PAGASA reported that a tropical depression, which had been monitored since 8 October, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 2:00 AM on 22 October. The depression was named Kristine, the 11th tropical cyclone of 2024. On the same day, Kristine brought moderate to heavy rainfall to parts of the eastern Philippines, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The trough of the depression also triggered scattered rain and thunderstorms in Metro Manila, MIMAROPA, portions of CALABARZON, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.

On 22 October 2024, PAGASA issued tropical cyclone wind signals across most of Luzon, as well as parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. Catanduanes was placed under Signal No. 2, while Signal No. 1 was raised for nearly all of Luzon, including Metro Manila. Later that day, Kristine intensified into a tropical storm, bringing heavy rainfall to much of the Bicol region and Northern Samar.

On 23 October, Kristine accelerated while maintaining its strength over the Philippine Sea east of Aurora. PAGASA forecasted its intensification into a Severe Tropical Storm before making landfall in Isabela. Additional areas, including Metro Manila, were placed under Signal No. 2, prompting class suspensions. At 12:30 AM, Kristine made landfall in Divilacan, Isabela, and crossed Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Ilocos Sur, triggering widespread flooding, particularly in Bicol. By the afternoon, Kristine had exited Luzon and was expected to move over the West Philippine Sea before exiting the PAR by 25 October.

On 23 October at 2:00 PM, PAGASA issued a bulletin indicating that Kristine could loop over the West Philippine Sea by 27–28 October, before moving east or eastnortheast toward the PAR. By 25 October, the storm had exited the PAR, though moderate to heavy rainfall still affected parts of Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, and Bataan, leading to domestic flight cancellations. The storm caused extensive flooding and strong winds, particularly in Bicol, affecting million families and resulting in hundreds of casualties, according to the NDRRMC.

On 26 October, another tropical storm, Leon (international name Kong-rey), was expected to enter the PAR by 27 October, becoming the 12th tropical cyclone of 2024. By 28 October, Leon had intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm and was forecast to become a typhoon by 29 October. It continued to influence the southwesterly wind flow triggered by Kristine, with PAGASA issuing Signal No. 1 for parts of Cagayan, Isabela, and Catanduanes, prompting class suspensions.

On 29 October, Leon intensified into a typhoon, prompting the issuance of Signal No. 2 in parts of Cagayan, with a potential landfall over Batanes. By 30 October, Leon had intensified into a Super Typhoon, leading to the issuance of Signal No. 5 in northern and eastern Batanes. The storm caused significant damage to infrastructure, including power and communication lines, uprooted trees, and destroyed homes.

On 31 October, Super Typhoon Leon began moving away from Batanes toward Taiwan, with Signal Nos. 1 to 4 remaining in effect in parts of Luzon. By 1 November, Leon weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm and exited the PAR.

Source: DOST-PAGASA

II. Status of Affected Areas and Population

A total of 2,576,136 families or 10,072,433 persons are affected in 13,509 barangays in Regions NCR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga, CAR, and BARMM (see Annex A).