Philippines - Tropical Cyclone HAIYAN - UPDATE

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 03:37:00 +01:00

Late on 17 November, the toll by HAIYAN as published by the National Disaster Council was 3 976 people killed, 1 598 missing, 18 175 injured and 571 800 houses damaged, around 50% of which destroyed. The UN estimates the number of damaged houses to more than 1 million. The number of affected people is estimated between 10.3 million (NDRRMC) and 12.9 million (UN). Four million people are still displaced, 353 000 of which in 1 550 evacuation centres. The total damage cost is now estimated at ca. 170 million euros.
The most pressing needs remain in the fields of food, shelter, water, sanitation and primary healthcare. Around 2.5 million people are in need of food assistance and a reported 814 000 people are currently receiving it, mainly in Leyte. Food shortages remain in Eastern Samar, northern Cebu, Iloilo and Capiz provinces. Water supply has been restored to 80% of Tacloban but shortages remain in some areas of the Western Visayas. Around 46% of health facilities in assessed areas are closed and health and sanitation are a concern, especially in overcrowded evacuation centres.
The total funding (contributions and commitments) for the effects of HAIYAN in the Philippines, as reported by the UN Financial Tracking Service, is 167 million USD as of 18 November.

Philippines - Tropical Cyclone HAIYAN

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 04:33:00 +01:00

Powerful Typhoon HAIYAN made landfall on 7 November at around 21:00 UTC near the city of Guiuan, Eastern Samar province. A few hours prior to landfall it had attained a max. sust. wind speed of 314 km/h according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, one of the highest values in record for a Tropical Cyclone. Its centre passed then briefly over sea, made a second landfall near Tolosa in Leyte and then a third one over Daang Bantayan in the northern tip of Cebu at around 03:00 UTC on08 November. In between these landfalls, at 00:00 UTC on 8 November it was still a very powerful Super Typhoon with a max. sust. wind speed of 296 km/h (equivalent to Category 5 in the Saffir-Simpson scale).
In the next few hours, HAIYAN is expected to pass over the northern parts of Panay island, the southern parts of Mindoro and northern Busuanga before emerging in the West Philippines Sea in the afternoon of 8 November, slightly weakened (but still with a strength equivalent to Category 4). Later on it is forecast to keep moving WNW over the South China Sea and approach the Vietnam coast on 10 November. A Typhoon Warning has already been issued by Vietnam Meteo.
Very strong, potentially destructive winds have been affecting the Visayas since the evening of 07 November (UTC). Public Storm Warning Signals #4 (the highest possible, for winds of more than 185 km/h in at least 12h) have been successively issued by PAGASA for almost all provinces of central Philippines (including all the Visayas and southern Luzon) since the early afternoon of 07 November. Heavy rainfall (250mm in 24h recorded in Surigao) is also affecting these regions, posing a risk of flash floods and landslides. Storm surge of close to 3m is indicated by JRC calculations for some places in the Visayas, notably NE Panay island.
Ahead of the arrival of HAIYAN, 125 600 people were evacuated in southern Luzon, the Visayas and northern Mindanao. This includes ca. 5 000 people still living in tents following damage caused by the 15 October earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol islands.
The extent of the possible damage in the landfall areas is not yet known, mainly due to disrupted communications. Early on 08 November (UTC) local media reported 2 people killed in Surigao and Cebu, floods and damaged houses in Tacloban city in Leyte and damage by strong winds in Bohol. Given the strength of HAIYAN, the damage toll could rise significantly.
A DG ECHO team landed in Manila 8 November morning and is continuously monitoring the situation in contact with ECHO partners (UN, RC and NGOs) and EU Delegation to the Philippines. ECHO deployment for field assessments from Manila to affected zones will start as soon as local airports will be re-opened. The situation in the affected areas will be assessed as soon as this is possible.

Micronesia, Philippines - Tropical Cyclone HAIYAN

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:55:00 +01:00

On 5 November, 00:00 UTC, HAIYAN was a Typhoon (max. sust. winds of 121 km/h) and it was moving W, over the Pacific Ocean, in the area of Micronesia islands, strengthening; it was located ca. 920 km SE of Yap and 2 200 km E of the Philippines.
According to the data of 5 November 00:00 UTC, HAIYAN is forecast to move W-NW through Micronesia on 5-6 November, passing between Yap and Palau on 6 November, and it may approach the coasts of the Philippines, significantly strengthened, on 8 November.
In Micronesia, as of 5 November 03:00 UTC (NOAA), a Typhoon Warning was in effect for Woleai and Ngulu (Yap State), a Tropical Storm Warning for Faraulep and Yap island (Yap State), a Typhoon Watch for Fais, Ulithi and Yap Island (Yap State) and for Koror and Kayangel (Republic of Palau).