Overall Red alert Tropical Cyclone for VAMCO-20
in Viet Nam, Laos, Philippines

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone VAMCO-20 can have a high humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000741
Name VAMCO-20
From - To 09 Nov - 15 Nov
Exposed countries Viet Nam, Laos, Philippines
Exposed population 47.4 million in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 213 km/h Category 4
Maximum storm surge 1.5 m (15 Nov 06:00 UTC)
Vulnerability High (Vietnam)

GDACS Score

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Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
GDACS JTWC 130 km/h 1.5 m n.a. 2.5
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 198 km/h 1.7 m 1150 mm 2.5
GFS 151 km/h 1.1 m 603 mm 0.5
ECMWF 126 km/h 1.1 m 749 mm 0.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Philippines, China, Vietnam - Tropical Cyclone VAMCO (ECHO 10 Nov 2020)Tue, 10 Nov 2020 11:05

  • Tropical cyclone VAMCO formed over the Philippine Sea and is moving west-northwest towards central Luzon. On 10 November, its centre was approximately 345 km north-east of the eastern coast of Samar Island (central Philippines).
  • VAMCO will move west, strengthening and makes landfall over the north-eastern coast of Camarines Norte Province (Bicol Region) or Quezon province on 11 November. After that, it will cross central Luzon passing very closethe National Capital Region, (Metro Manila).
  • On 10-11 November, heavy rain, strong wind and storm surge are forecast across most parts of Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Bicol, National Capital Region (NCR) and Mimaropa.
  • VAMCO is the fifth tropical cyclone that will hit the central Philippines over the last 20 days.
  • A tropical storm signal 1 warning has been issued for the Regions of Calabarzon and Bicolparts of Samar provinces and a severe flood advisory is in effect over Calabarzon. PAGASA warns of the increasing likelihood of landfall at or near peak intensity in Goni-affected Bicol region.
Philippines - Tropical Cyclone VAMCO update Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:08

  • Tropical Cyclone VAMCO (ULYSSES in the Philippines) continued moving over the western Philippine Sea as a Typhoon. On 11 November at 6.00 UTC, its centre was approximately 140 km east of the Polillo Island (central Philippines, east of Luzon) with maximum sustained wind of 148 km/h.
  • VAMCO is forecast to make landfall over Polillo Island, northern Calabarzon, and estern Central Luzon Regions on 11 November in the afternoon (UTC), with maximum sustained wind of 140-145 km/h. After that it is forecast to continue moving west inland over Central Luzon and then over South China Sea on 11-12 November, slightly weakening.
  • On 11-12 November, very heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over central, and northern Philippines. A Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 2 was issued by PAGASA over Central Luzon.
Philippines, Vietnam - Tropical Cyclone VAMCO update (ECHO 12 Nov 2020)Thu, 12 Nov 2020 11:06

  • Tropical Cyclone VAMCO passed over northern Calabarzon and Central Luzon Regions, very close (around 40 km north) to the Metro Manila area as a Typhoon.
  • Metro Manila has experienced heavy to torrential rain that caused floods in most of its low-lying areas and along the major river systems. As of 12 November, Angat Dam is at 211.3 metres, which is already above its spilling level, the Marikina River is at 21 metres level, 7 metres more than its normal level. The city government officials say, more people need to be evacuated.
  • Media report, as of 12 November, at least one fatality, 3 missing people and around 40,000 damaged houses across Central Luzon and Metro Manila. In addition, all flights were suspended in the Manila International Airport.
  • Massive floods are reported in the towns of Rodriguez and San Mateo in the province of Rizal, the local government units deploy rescue operations. 
  • VAMCO is forecast to continue westward over the South China Sea and it is expected to approach the coast of central Vietnam on 14 November.
Philippines, Vietnam - Typhoon VAMCO update (ECHO 13 Nov 2020)Fri, 13 Nov 2020 10:00

  • Typhoon VAMCO is moving west over the South China Sea towards central-northern Vietnam. Following its passage over central Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports 12 fatalities, 14 missing and 8 injured people. More than 80,000 people have been evacuated in 825 evacuation centres and 170,561 people are affected in the Regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, NCR, and CAR.
  • In Marikina City, water search and rescue continue for residents who have been trapped in flooded areas for more than 24 hours. All 47 evacuation centres in the city are already full of evacuees, and the risk of COVID-19 transmission is worrying in these congested centres.
  • Many flooded areas (including Goni-affected Bicol region) require heavy equipment for clearing and search and rescue operations. DG ECHO partners have started initial relief assistance.
  • VAMCO will continue west-northwest and it is forecast to make landfall over the north-eastern coast of Quang Binh Province on 15 November as a Tropical Storm.
  • On 13-14 November, heavy rain and strong wind are forecast mostly over the north-western Philippines.
Vietnam, Philippines - Typhoon VAMCO update (ECHO 16 Nov 2020)Mon, 16 Nov 2020 11:09

  • Typhoon Vamco made landfall over northern Quang Binh Province  (northern-central Vietnam) on the morning of 15 November with maximum sustained winds up to 130 km/h, continued moving north-west and dissipated over north-eastern Thailand.
  • According to the Authorities of Vietnam, 5 people have been injured (2 in Quang Tri Province and 3 in Quang Nam Province) more than 325,000 people have been evacuated and 55 communes remained without electricity in Quang Binh Province.
  • In addition, 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.
  • For the next 24 hours, moderate to heavy rain is forecast over most parts of Vietnam, particularly the northern Provinces.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Articles: 824 | About casualties: 240 | Last hour: 0

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Duterte Declares State of Calamity in Luzon after String of TyphoonsThu, 19 Nov 2020 00:31:00 +0100.

MANILA – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of calamity throughout the island of Luzon, which has been struck by three typhoons in the last month that have killed more than 100 people. “Last night, I think, I signed t
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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: UNOSAT (1), EC-JRC (38), (2), DesInventar (1), WMO (1), INFORM (2),