PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000
Telephone: 808.433.7035 · PDMIN@coe-dmha.org · http://www.coe-dmha.org

Philippine Typhoons Durian and Utor Update

Monday, December 11, 2006

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

Current Status

Typhoon Utor (local name: Seniang) exited the central Philippines on Monday night (December 11), leaving at least four people killed. Another four people were reportedly injured and another four were missing. Utor was a category 2 typhoon with gusts of up to 90 mph (150 kph), and affected the Luzon and Visayas regions. Authorities had reportedly evacuated around 79,000 people in Albay province in Southern Luzon, where more than 1,000 people are dead or missing after Typhoon Durian (local name: Reming) triggered mudslides on November 30. The evacuations occurred although the Bicol region, in Southeastern Luzon, was just north of Utor's path. More than 100,000 displaced people were already at evacuation centers following Typhoon Durian, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). There were no more immediate reports of further destruction in Bicol. Another 1,000 people from the central provinces of Cebu, Leyte and Southern Leyte fled to evacuation centers ahead of Utor. According to the NDCC, a total of 110,759 people in 132 barangays in Southern Luzon and the Visayas regions have been affected by Utor. According to officials, over 500 houses were destroyed and electricity was knocked out in the central Visayas region. The central province of Marinduque, which was also affected by Durian, remains without power. The Department of Public Ways and Highways also reported that roads were destroyed in the Central Luzon, and Southern and Eastern Visayas regions. Another 16,300 people were stranded in ports as ferry services were temporarily suspended, but operations have since resumed. The government is currently working with local government and provincial agencies to provide assistance to Utor-affected areas. Utor had also prompted the postponement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East Asia summits in central Cebu city and nearby Mactan island for this week. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Utor is currently over the South China Sea and is following a northeast track that is forecasted to reach the southern Chinese island of Hainan. Meanwhile, national and international relief efforts also continued in areas in Southern Luzon that were affected by Durian, including a 200-vehicle convoy from Manila dispatched to the Bicol region today. The total damage estimate for Durian alone has risen to at least 4.482 billion pesos (US$90.4 million), according to the NDCC on Sunday (December 10). Utor is the fifth typhoon to strike the Philippines since September. (NDCC, Phil Inq, Reuters, AP, PAGASA, Dec-11)

Impact

· Affected:

Durian

2,700,972 persons in 2,691 barangays in 158 municipalities in 14 provinces in: Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal)

Region IV-B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon)

Region V (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon – Bicol region). (NDCC, Dec-10)

Utor

110,759 persons in 132 barangays in:

Regions IV-B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon provinces)

Region V (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon – Bicol region)

Region VI (Aklan, Antique. Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Palawan provinces – Western Visayas)

Region VII (Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor – Central Visayas)

Region VIII (Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte – Eastern Visayas) (NDCC, Dec-10)

· Evacuees:

Durian

110,701 displaced people in 489 designated evacuation centers (NDCC, Dec-10)

Utor

89,919 people in 64 evacuation centers (NDCC, Dec-11)

· Damaged houses:

Durian

181,676 totally and 286,456 partially (NDCC, Dec-10)

Utor

522 totally and 1,965 partially (NDCC, Dec-11)

· Affected areas:

Durian

Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, parts of Camarines Norte and Sur, Marinduque, Batangas, Quezon and Luzon.

Utor

Southern Luzon and Visayas regions.

· Infrastructure damage

Durian

Infrastructure damage estimated at 3.1 billion pesos (US$62.6 million). (Dec-10, NDCC)

No power in whole province of Albay; Camarines Norte has 97% power; Camarines Sur has 10% power; No power in whole province of Sorsogon. (Dec-10, NDCC)

In Catanduanes, Albay and Carmines Sur provinces, NDCC reports that damage to medical facilities and power outages seriously hampering emergency medical services. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Widespread communications and power outages remain in most affected areas. Two mobile phone companies generally working in Camarines Sur and Albay during downtimes during the day. Only means of communication in Catanduanes is Single Side Band (SSB-HF) radio with links to Legaspi City in Albay and NDCC OPCEN in Manila. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Clearing operations of secondary and tertiary roads by government engineering units still ongoing. Power being slowly restored in Camarines Sur and Albay. (Dec-10, OCHA)

National Transmission Corp. (Transco) set “sentimental target” of restoring all power lines in Bicol by Christmas by setting up a temporary Emergency Restoration Systems. Estimated cost is 1 billion pesos (US$20,000). It would take at least two more weeks to restore power in Albay and Legazpi City. Power in Sorsogon and Naga-Tiwi lines would be restarted on December 16 and Naga-Labor lines on December 28. (Phil Inq, Dec-07)

Department of Education (DOE) says 2,321 schools have been completely or partially destroyed with repair estimated at 1.13 billion pesos (US$22.7 million). In Albay province, 90% of schools have sustained nearly total damage. DOE has released 200 million pesos (US$4 million) for repairs. (Dec-08, UNICEF, Manila Times)

Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) conducting clearing operations in Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Catanduanes. (Dec-04, NDCC)

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said that damage to agriculture estimated at 330 million pesos (US$6.4 million) in Albay alone. (Phil-Inq, Dec 6)

Utor

No stranded passengers and transportation as of latest NDCC report. (NDCC, Dec-11)

No power in whole province of Marinduque; Panay has 90% power; Power black out in Pilar and Roxas City, Capiz due to tripping of TRANSCO lines; 100% power in Cebu; 1% power in Samar; 87% power in Leyte. (NDCC, Dec-11)

Roads in Central and Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas destroyed by Utor. Repairs being hampered by continued heavy rains. (Phil Inq, Dec-11)

· Economic damage

Durian

NDCC says agriculture damage estimated at over 1.3 billion pesos (US$26.2 million). (Dec-10, NDCC)

Utor

29 million pesos (US$586,000) for agriculture and 5 million pesos (US$100,000) for infrastructure. (Dec-11, Phil Inq)

Priority Needs and Requirements (for Durian-affected areas)

NDCC Priority Needs:

1.) Emergency shelter – Individual household tents

2.) Health – Disease surveillance, medicines and vaccines, power generation for hospitals in priority location

3.) Food – Rice, noodles, canned goods, mongo beans, dried fish, infant food

4.) NFIs - Sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, adult and children’s slippers, kitchen utensils, transistor radios with batteries, candles, flashlight with batteries, jerry cans (20-liter capacity), cooking stoves, adult and children underwear, and hygiene kits (bath and laundry soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, face and bath towels, etc.)

5.) Water - Water tanks for water storage and daily use. (Dec-10, OCHA)

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Priority Actions:

1.) Sustaining relief operations,

2.) Disease surveillance,

3.) Harmonization of damage and needs assessment activities

4.) Completion of search and retrieval of the dead.

Intermittent rains being experienced in the affected areas pose additional challenge to humanitarian workers and victims alike as these could give rise to common ailments like cough, colds, respiratory and skin infections. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Urgent relief items are available and can be purchased in the country; provincial officials of affected areas request that purchases be made, as far as practicable, in their localities to pump prime economic activities. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Government Response

President Arroyo declared state of national calamity on December 3 (Sunday), and authorized 1 billion pesos (US$20.17 million) for the effects of the three successive Durian (Reming), Cimarron (Paeng) and Xangsane (Milenyo) typhoons. (OCHA, Dec-03)

Estimated cost of assistance by NDCC, DSWD, DOH, Local government units (LGUs), NGOs and other GOs amount to 60.8 million pesos (US$1.23 million). (NDCC, Dec-10)

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo directed on 9 December the organization of a 200-vehicle convoy for 12 December to bring relief and medical aid to the victims of Typhoon Durian in the Bicol Region. The private sector, NGOs, and civic organizations have been enjoined to participate in the exercise. (OCHA, Dec-10)

13-member Quick Response Team from DSWD still in Bicol Region to assist local workers in disaster operations and conducting incident stress briefing (CISD) to survivors. (GOP, Dec-08) Search and retrieval operations in affected areas extended until December 15, 2006. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Relief operations terminated in Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal) on December 5. (GOP, Dec-08)

NDCC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) facilitated 10 sorties carrying relief goods (food, medicine, shelter items etc), manpower and equipment to Virac, Catanduanes and Legaspi City, Albay via the Philippine Air Force for Operation Blessing on December 8 and 9. (NDCC, Dec-09)

NDCC deployed one water purification systems to Camarines Sur province capable of generating 32,000 liters of drinking water daily; two units capable of 120,000 liters daily to Albay. (OCHA, Dec-10)

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided relief supplies to provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Virac, Catanduanes worth over 12 million pesos (US$242,000). (NDCC, Dec-10) Distributed total of 1,514 tents donated by China, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Singapore for same number of displaced families. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Department of Health sent four teams conducting rapid health assessment and disease surveillance. Distributed medicines, medical supplies and body bags to Bicol region, amounting to over 2.4 million pesos (US$48,000). Conducting measles and polio vaccinations for children. Working to identify possible water supply sources. (NDCC, Dec-08) Working with WHO on more specialized assessment of urgent health needs building on earlier rapid needs assessment conducted by NDCC and UN Country Team. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Fire trucks delivering water for daily use in priority areas in Camarines Sur and Albay. (Dec-10, OCHA)

Department of Agriculture has planned assistance to farmers, including subsidies, rehabilitation, crop seeds, fish stock and veterinary supplies worth over 6.4 million pesos (US$130,000). (NDCC, Dec-10)

Utor

DSWD has pre-positioned 27.6 million pesos (US$558,000) worth of relief goods and activated Quick Action Response Teams in affected regions. (NDCC, Dec-11)

PNP, DPWH and LGUs clearing debris on highways/roads in Region VIII (Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte – Eastern Visayas) (NDCC, Dec-11)

National Response

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) served 845 families in five evacuation centres in Albay Province. Food and NFIs donated through PNRC were airlifted to Albay, Catanduanes and Marinduque Chapters via military C-130 flights for distribution to the affected families. (OCHA, Dec-10)

Mirant Foundation provided 1 million pesos (US$20,000) in cash and medicines. (NDCC, Dec-08)

Peace Equity Access for Community Empowerment Foundation, Inc. gave 2 million pesos (US$40,000) worth of relief goods for Camarines Sur, Albay and Catanduanes. (NDCC, Dec-08)

SMART Communications gave free calling center in Albay. (NDCC, Dec-08)

International Response

The Philippine government said that it is willing to accept offers of assistance from foreign governments, aid agencies and the UN. (Dec-03, OCHA)

Bilateral contributions from Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel and United States have amounted to US$ 3,010,740. (Dec-10, OCHA)

United Nations

UNRC has submitted the inter-agency CERF proposal and the amount of US$ 2,654,255 and was approved to support emergency relief activities in the affected provinces. (Dec-10, OCHA)

NDCC formally requested the UN Country Team, through the UNRC, to facilitate offers of assistance from donors and aid agencies; an NDCC Advisory was subsequently published to this effect. (Dec-10, OCHA)

OCHA ROAP and UNDP BCPR – Asia are jointly collecting information and other necessary input from UN and government sources to expedite the submission of an appeal for continuing emergency interventions leading to early recovery in the affected areas. (Dec-10, OCHA)

UNICEF Led UN inter-agency assessment team to Albay on 5 December and provided 4,000 family packs consisting of rice, canned goods, mattress, blankets) and medicines (Dec-5, OCHA) UNICEF is working on the assumption that 45 percent of those affected are likely to be children. (Dec-5, UNNS) UNICEF mobilized and dispatched some US$450,000 worth of family care packs, tarps, 400 ltr water tanks, 20 gallon water gerry cans, water purification tablets, generators, mosquito nets and tents. Aid will be distributed to 16,700 families in the five worst affected provinces. (Dec-8, NDCC)

UNOCHA has provided US$1-2 million for local purchase of relief supplies. (Dec-04, NDCC)

World Health Organization (WHO) giving priority to distributing potable water, as well as water purification tablets. At government’s request, WHO will furnish water purification equipment and is pre-positioning emergency health kits to care for 10,000 people for three months. (Dec-5, UNNS) WHO says officials must ensure care for survivors instead of shifting resources to mass burials, in an attempt to dispel the belief that corpses breed disease. (Dec-7, INQ7)

NGOs/IOs

Action by Churches Together (ACT) reports that Christian Aid, through its implementing partners, is planning to join with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) in an ACT Appeal to provide assistance. Sent US$50,000 to National Council of Churches in the Philippines. (Dec-6, ACT)

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has provided food and emergency aid to those affected. In Albay, ADRA provided 550 families with assistance. In Quezon and Batangas, 350 families received food aid. ADRA will sponsor a medical team to provide 6,000 families with assistance. Another 780 families in Bicol will receive aid, while ADRA will assist 142 homeless families build shelters. (Dec-8, NDCC)

Australian Aid International (AAI) has deployed a DART to Bicol, Luzon. (Dec-4, AAI)

CARE using US$70,000 from its emergency response fund. Assessing damage in Catanduanes and Albay. Planning to dispatch emergency experts from offices in region and CARE emergency group in Geneva. (Dec-7, CARE) Provided relief to 1,000 affected families and sent assessment team to Albay. (Dec-04, CARE)

Catholic Relief Services announced that it committed US$500,000 to provide emergency relief and recovery assistance. CRS is working closely with Caritas Philippines in assessing the damage.

Christian Aid committed an initial US$102,000. (Dec-6, CA)

Christian Blind Mission and local partners assisting in relief. (Dec-6, CBM)

Christian Children’s Fund is establishing a Child Centered Space in Pili where greatest number of children affected by the storm. CCF did initial damage assessment in affected areas. (Dec-5, CCF)

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) says it is preparing response. (Dec-5, CRWRC)

DHL Express Asia Pacific committed 4 trucks to transport relief supplies from DSWD’s warehouse in Pasay City to Bicol. (Dec-8, NDCC)

Global Medic, a Toronto based NGO, to deploy an Emergency Rapid Response Team to bring supplies to Bicol. (Dec-8, NDCC)

International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has dispatched a FACT team to support the PRCS in assessing the situation. Deployed two specialized assessment teams to the region. (Dec-5, OCHA) IFRC sent out its latest appeal of US$ 7,318,798 to support the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to assist 200,000 beneficiaries for nine months. (IFRC, Dec-04) IFRC released initial emergency assistance of 100,000 Swiss Francs (US$83,769). (OCHA, Dec-03) Netherlands Red Cross pledged 40,000 Euros (US$53,339). (OCHA, Dec-03)

Lutheran World Relief is responding to the situation with US$15,000 contribution through ACT. (Dec-7, LWR)

Mercy Malaysia provided humanitarian services in Albay and coordinating with DOH Regional Health Unit and will distribute hygiene kits (Dec-8, NDCC)

Oxfam is sending out public health experts to assist staff on the ground. Immediate response is in Albay province, where Oxfam is trucking in clean water and distributing emergency items to 30,000 people. (Dec-5, Oxfam) Oxfam Great Britain to give US$585,805 for relief operations. Provided 30,000 bottles of 1.5 liter mineral water and hygiene kits directly to 30,000 people in Albay. (Dec-8, NDCC)

Plan International pledged US$80,000 to cover basic emergency requirements of survivors in Albay province; US$350,000 committed by international headquarters and US$1 million for immediate and long-term response in Albay, Camarines Sur and Marinduque Provinces. (Dec-8, NDCC)

Save the Children is mobilizing an initial response. Two alliance members, SC United States and SC Sweden have worked together during the Leyte mudslide. (Dec-7, SC)

Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) sent two representatives to Catanduanes to re-establish communications. (Dec-04, NDCC)

UAE Red Crescent Society offered material aid to the Philippines in coordination with IFRC. (Dec-5, Gov UAE)

World Vision says two relief teams were previously sent to Albay and Camarines Sur to conduct assessments. Another team is scheduled to leave for Catanduanes on Thursday aboard a C-130 aircraft, which also carries an initial 300 sacks of rice, sardines and beans for aid distribution.  The remaining team will leave for Marinduque within the week due to the inaccessibility of the province. World Vision staff were also sent to Albay to establish Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) as soon as possible in affected communities until the end of December. (Dec-5, WVI) WVI launched initial appeal for US$1 million. (Dec-03, WVI) WV also preparing a two-year US$6 million rehabilitation proposal to respond to affected families’ long-term needs. USAID has given WV US$200,000 and WVI has received US$3,000 from Union Church of Manila, the funds, along with WV offices across the region, provides a total of some US$631,224 in relief funds thus far. (Dec-8, WVI) Relief items, including NFIs and food, distributed for 56,000 people. (Dec-10, NDCC)

Foreign Governments

AUSAid has pledged US$1 million in emergency assistance. (Dec-03, OCHA)

Canada has pledged CAD 1 million ($500,000 thru the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to assist with emergency and temporary shelter, non-food items, water and sanitation. (Dec-5, OCHA) Water plant (144,000 liter/day capacity) arrived and will be transported to Bicol. (Dec-8, NDCC) Inflatable hospital to be installed in Camalig, water purification tablets worth US$1.4 million to be distributed. (Dec-10, NDCC)

China providing US$200,000 (Dec-6, NDCC)

Ireland sent US$397,000 in cash. (Dec-04, Phil Inq)

Israel sent US$7,500 worth of medicines

Japan has decided to provide emergency assistance in kind (tents, blankets, generators, water tanks/containers) of 20 million yen (US$170,000). JICA also pledged emergency assistance of US$1 million. (Dec-03, OCHA)

Malaysia sent two C-130 loads of supplies that are arriving in Legaspi City on December 11 due to delay from Typhoon Utor (Dec-10, NDCC)

Indonesia has sent 2 C-130 military aircraft arrived in Legaspi City with 25 tons cargo with: 8 tons assorted medicines; 4 tons infant food; 20,400 kgs food, canned goods and sardines; 6,000 bottles sweet soy sauce; 6,000 bottles chilli sauce; 1,800 bottles cooking oil; 200 boxes instant noodles; 290 boxes oatmeal; 1,100 cartons biscuits; and, clothing such as 3,000 pcs women, 3,000 pcs children and 3,000 pcs men’s wears valued at IDR 1,168,614,840 (PhP 6,310,520.14) (Dec-5, OCHA)

Republic of Korea sending US$100,000 cash assistance. (Dec-04, NDCC)

Saipan: JPY 20,000,000 or PhP 9.0 M (tents, blankets, generators, water tanks/containers (Dec-5, OCHA)

Singapore: Sent relief supplies worth some US$50,000 (Dec-8, NDCC)

Spain providing US$250,000 worth of relief goods in one plane load. (Dec-6, NDCC)

Thailand donated 1,000 sacks of rice. (Dec-11, AP)

USAID has provided USD$250,000 as immediate cash assistance to relief organizations to procure emergency commodities such as blankets, mosquito nets, plastic mats, cooking utensils and to help finance the distribution of seeds to families whose crops were damaged by the typhoon as food for work program in Albay and further support local government efforts to clear roads and drainage infrastructure of debris. (Dec-5, OCHA) Relief goods worth some US$130,000 to PNRC from US arrived on Thursday (Dec 7). Supplies included 200 rolls plastic sheeting, 7,600 water containers, and 7,000 family hygiene kits. (Dec-7, INQ7) Provided US$200,000 to World Vision. (Dec-8, WVI)

Vietnam is sending 500 tons of rice by ship. (Dec-8, NDCC)

Background

Typhoon Utor is the fifth typhoon to strike the Philippines since September. In late September, Typhoon Xangsane (local name: Milenyo) cut across Luzon, leaving over 250 people dead in the Philippines and Vietnam. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines since 1998. Like Durian, which struck on November 30, Xangsane had cut through southern Luzon and northern Visayas. It caused millions of dollars in damage to the Philippines and some damaged areas are still recovering from the effects of Xangsane. In October, powerful Typhoon Cimaron (local name: Paeng) killed 19 people and injured 58 others. Earlier in November, Typhoon Chebi (local name: Queenie) cut through Luzon, killing one person.

The largest numbers of casualties have been caused by landslides or floods caused by typhoons. In 1991, more than 5,000 people died in the central island of Leyte in floods triggered by Typhoon Thelma. In 2004, a series of typhoons and tropical storms left about 1,800 people dead or missing, including 480 who were killed when mudslides struck three towns in eastern Quezon province in the Luzon region.

Around 20 typhoon and tropical storms strike the Philippines each year. The Philippine typhoon season generally coincides with the annual wet season from June to November, although there are occasional typhoons in December.

NDCC released report on compound effects of last three major typhoons, Xangsane (Milenyo) in September, Cimaron (Paeng) in October and Durian (Reming) in December. Total casualties are at 808 dead, 2,652 injured and 820 missing. Total displaced estimated at 350,329. (UNICEF, Dec-08)