Typhoon Nell - Dec 1993

Typhoon 'Puring' - international code name 'nell' hit the Philippines on 26 December 1993 carrying heavy rains with center winds of 120 km per hour. Typhoon ‘Puring' was the 32nd tropical storm to hit the country this year in a record-breaking season. An average of 20 storms is recorded annually. The typhoon affected the Central and Western Visayas and The Northern Mindanao Regions (Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Agusan Del Norte, Cagayan De Oro, Caniguin, Southern Leyte, Surigao Del Norte, Davao Del Norte and Misamis Oriental).

As of 28 December 1993, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reports 26 people dead, 5 injured and 16 missing. 124,901 persons (23,083 families) were affected. The number of houses totally destroyed is 2,759 and 6,286 were partially damaged. The damage in Bohol and Surigao del Norte provinces was estimated at p. 264,153 million (approx. $10.3 million). President Fidel Ramos declared a state of calamity in 21 areas - 11 provinces and 10 cities - to facilitate relief operations and rehabilitation efforts. According to media reports, at least 38 evacuation centres were set up in Cebu, Butuan City and Davao del Norte And Sur with the local disaster coordinating councils distributing food items to evacuees. (UN DHA, 28 Dec 1993)

As of 29 December 1993, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) provides following update on the impact of Typhoon 'Puring': 45 people dead, 7 injured and 7 missing. 366,217 persons (64,860 families) were affected. The number of houses totally destroyed is 9,897 and 18,538 were partially damaged. Total damage for all affected areas is estimated at p. 512.363 million (approx. USD 17 million), including damage to agriculture of approx. USD 6 million and to infrastructure amounting to USD 10 million. Cebu and Bohol provinces in region vii suffered the largest extent of damage estimated at USD 9 million. (UN DHA, 29 Dec 1993)

After rampaging through the Philippines on a west-northwestward track, Nell entered the South China Sea and turned southwestwards on the evening of 27 December, having first weakened to a tropical storm in the afternoon. Weakening further on the way, Nell eventually dissipated over water on 29 December. In the Philippines, 167 people were killed and 52 others reported missing as Nell swept across it. Electricity supply to three southern provinces was cut off for a week. Economic loss was estimated to be US$105 million. (Govt. China-Hong Kong , 31 Jan 1995)