Showing posts with label floodings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label floodings. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon El Salvador flooding kills 40 people



El Salvador’s interior minister Humberto Centeno announced that after three days of continuous rains, at least 14 provinces in a mountainous region of the country were waterlogged and inundated by flood. About 40 people died and at least two dozen casualties were reported in San Vicente province.

The massive rainfall in Central Latin America was traced to the low pressure areas in the coast of the Pacific. In the northwest Caribbean, Hurricane Ida, passing the Yucatan in the Mexican peninsula played some role in bringing Ecuador's disastrous flooding. (Photo Credit: Tina Manthorpe) =0=

UPDATE: 11/09/09 More landslides, flooding, and destruction property upped the number of deaths in El Salvador to 124. The number of casualties is expected to rise and hundreds of homes were destroyed, leaving some 13,000 people homeless.

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PostHeaderIcon Typhoon Santi left with at least 12 people dead in Bicol



Although the destruction and casualties of Typhoon Santi (Code Name; Mirinae) was minimized because of some disaster preparedness waged by the public, significant displacement, deaths and damage were still experienced by people on the way of the wicked weather.

The fast-moving typhoon that brought strong winds and heavy rains on its path left the country yesterday with 12 reported deaths in Bicol. Four people were suffered injuries and another four were missing.

“Raffy Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director, identified the casualties mostly from Camarines Norte as Sarah Mae Vargas, Jose Edoña, Flora Estacion, Rodrigo Rodriguez, Maria Ferrer, Rogelio Rasco, Analiza de la Cruz, Louie Alano of Bagamanoc, Catanduanes and four others (two from Jose Panganiban town and one each from Daet and Paracale." ----Philstar (11/02/09, Flores, H; Mananghaya, J.)

As the storm hit land, many travelers were stranded in bus stations and seaports. According to reports, 1,507 homes were completely damaged in Basud, Paracale, San Lorenzo, Talisay, Vinzons and Labo in Camarines Norte. Six thousand four hundred forty one (6,441) were partially damaged in same area. Eighty eight (88) houses were totally destroyed in the town of Siruma, among the 528 which were partially destroyed in various towns in Camarines Sur.

There were flooding in certain areas in Manila and Southern Luzon. About 19,000 individuals went to evacuation centers to seek safety. According to the NDCC, The weather disturbance affected an estimated 2,853 families or 13,456 individuals in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa Region and Metro Manila. (Photo Credit: Bullit Marquez/ AP) =0=

RELATED POST: "Typhoon Santi slams Luzon with strong wind and flash flooding" Posted by mesiamd at 10/31/2009; "Typhoon Santi heads for Central Luzon" Posted by mesiamd at 10/30/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Typhoon Santi slams Luzon with strong wind and flash flooding



The fourth cyclone to pass the Philippines this year, Typhoon Santi (code name: Mirinae) quickly pummeled Manila, the Northern part of the Philippines and Bicol Region with strong winds and heavy rains last Friday, October 30, 2009.

The tropical disturbance came at the time when Filipinos were preparing for the traditional All Saint’s Day celebration on November 1, 2009, stranding many travelers on their way home to the provinces.

As a result of better disaster preparation, many mishaps were avoided in vulnerable communities in Manila, Bicol and Central Luzon. The early evacuation of about 115,000 people avoided injuries and casualties that could have been caused by the wicked storm that earlier brought signal number 3 in many places.

“Santi, which weakened into a storm as it heads toward the South China Sea, caused “minimal casualties,” the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Saturday afternoon, killing at least one person.

At 2 p.m., the storm was seen 170 kilometers southwest of Manila, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph, the state weather bureau Pagasa said."---
Inquirer (10/31/09, Evangelista, K)

Flooding up to waist deep in certain areas were observed in Laguna, a province hard hit by Tyhpoon Ondoy. Some residents had to go to rooftops to avoid the rising water. In lesser extent, this happened again when Santi passed by.

Electrical power interruptions were reported in various places in Bicol Region. Many passengers on their way home for the weekend All Saint’s celebration were stranded in bus terminals and sea ports.

Certain dams and waterways were opened to prevent the repeat flooding which occurred in Nuevea Ecija, Pangasinan, Aurora, etc. All international and local flights from and to Manila were temporarily cancelled said airport manager Alfredo Cusi.

The government, the military, and its disaster agencies are on the process of helping affected families. They are on the field to assess the exact damage of the wicked weather disturbance. (Photo Credit: Ray Bruna/ Reuters) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon More casualties in RP's Typhoon Ondoy





The heavy rains and subsequent flood which swept Manila and neighboring provinces in the weekend brought a trail of destruction, disrupting lives and causing about 340,000 people to evacuate in 92 centers all over the country. The government reported deaths of at least 100 people, mostly due to drowning--- the aftermath of tropical typhoon Ondoy.

“Twenty-one died in Region III: nine in Bulacan and 12 in Arayat, Pampanga. In the Cordillera Administrative Region, one was killed in Kabugao, Apayao…

At the badly-hit Provident Village in Marikina, GMA News reported Sunday night that no less than 15 people had been found dead in the village. Among them were two children and six adults left by the roadside awaiting identification by family members who had been prevented by the flood from reaching them in time. Other residents were rescued Sunday after getting stranded for many hours.”----
GMAnew. TV (09/27/09, Dedace, S)

Drenched with rain, many people stranded for hours were rescued from the flooded streets and others were plucked from rooftops of houses. Villages were impassible to regular traffic in a flooding considered the worst in 42 years.

Airports temporarily cancelled flights as runways became water-logged. Electrical power disruptions were reported in various parts of the city. Businesses and stores in many villages in Manila were closed because of water damage.

Overall, the flood had been another warning that Filipinos need to step up their disaster preparedness. If not, more destruction and deaths couldn't be averted. (Photo Credit: Inquirer.net; YahoowNews/ AFP) =0=

RELATED BLOG: Record flooding in Manila by Typhoon Ondoy Posted by mesiamd at 9/26/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Record flooding in Manila by Typhoon Ondoy




On September 26, 2009, Saturday, between 8 AM to 2 PM, a heavy downpour in Metro Manila brought water rising--- surpassing a previous record of rainful in 1967. According to PAGASA, the rain brought by Typhoon Ondoy, registered 341 millimeters in a 6-hour period. It surpassed the record 42 years ago for the highest rainfall record in a 24-hour period of 334 millimeters in the area.

Metro Manila and 25 provinces were put on disaster emergency. The provinces affected by the flooding were Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, and Bataan.

“At least 25 villages in Marilao, Meycauayan, San Miguel and Bocaue in Bulacan were also flooded, with floodwaters reaching up to waist-high. In Metro Manila, at least 33 villages in Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Quezon, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela and San Juan Cities were also flooded.”---GMAnews.TV (09/25/09)

Typhoon Ondoy waterlogged streets in the city of Manila, hampering movement and forcing at least 363 families of more than a thousand individuals (mainly from San Mateo town) to evacuate their homes. At least 9 people were reported missing as the typhoon lashed the country. The poor drainage system and clogging of sewers and waterways were partly to blame for the torrential flood.

It is unclear if this wicked weather is related to the climate change brought by global warming as currently debated. Believers of man-made weather changes assert that catastrophes from high C02 emissions and pollution could cause these foul weather aberrations. On the other hand, there are those who believe that the earth’s climate changes in cycles that spans in centuries--- with man, contributing little to the fluctuations in weather.

Whatever the reason(s), it is expected that flooding in many areas could displace many people which might cause considerable suffering, political and social instability. The weather experience in the Manila, Philippines where about 10 million people live is not an isolated one. (PHoto Credits: GMAnews.TV; Kerolic) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Flashfloods and landslides of Typhoon Kiko kill two Frenchmen and strand thousands



As a consequence of Typhoon Kiko, heavy rains and flashfloods occurred in various parts of the Philippines killing at least two Frenchmen and a Filipino guide who were swept by raging waters on their way to Mount Pinatubo on Thursday, August 6, 2009. Another Frenchman was reported missing.

In Baguio, three children died while two adults were hurt in landslides precipitated by rains and strong winds. A landslide between Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya stalled traffic in Putlan in Carrangla, Nueva Ecija. In Zambales, 365 families had to be evacuated when a dike broke. The flooding disrupted the lives of about 15,000 people in 8 villages. Assistance from the disaster response groups including that of the Philippine Air Force are underway. (Photo Credit: Junjun Tan) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Swept by flood, electrocution & manhole drowning in Typhoon Isang



Tropical strom Isang (international code name Molave,) passed the northern part of the country on Saturday, July 18, 2009, leaving 3 dead and 2 missing persons. According to The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC,) Lomer Fernando, 32 of Batac, Ilocos, died of electrocution, a 9 month old Katrina Justilero fell and was swept by raging flood, and 13 year old Joemar Ligara, of Caloocan City drowned in a river.

Those who were reported missing included 9-year-old Arnold Julian of San Mateo town in Rizal province and and Jonathan Hormeneta, 22 who respectively fell in a manhole and carried by strong river torrent during heavy rains.

“The agency said the rains brought by the storm flooded 176 villages in Ilocos Norte, La Union, Rizal, Cavite provinces and Metro Manila. It added that 30 villages in nine cities in Metro Manila were flooded at the height of the storm.”---abs-cbnNews.com (07/18/09)

Almost all the casualties seemed avoidable. In a mix of filth and garbage, thousands of Manila residents waded the murky flood waters that pose danger to their health. To gain mobility, children and adults walked and play in flooded streets, unmindful of the dangers.

The yearly typhoons have caused deaths, injury, and property damage to the nation. Disaster preparedness had been a challenge during the typhoon season. (Photo Credit: Kevulike) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Some Floodings Explained: The Conflict Between Man and Nature


These recent days heavy floodings have been reported in some parts of the Philippines--Northern Samar, the Agusan provinces (flooding due to the swelling of Agusan River), Cagayan de Oro (flooding due to the overflowing of Cagayan River of its banks), Iligan City and Linamon in Lanao del Norte, Capiz and Cagayan provinces.

The rains might have been frequent but not really that strong. And flood-prone areas like Metro Manila and Central Luzon were generally spared this time. But all know that during the habagat (southwest monsoons) those areas are almost always flooded when the heavy rains come.

If one will notice all of these now-flooded areas lie to the north of the island to where they belong. The floodings were due to the overflowing of the banks of their rivers which all flow northward.

Funny that the reporter in Lanao del Norte charged that "storm surge" was the cause of the flooding. What he meant was the rivers cannot empty to the sea (causing it to rise) because there's a surge coming from the sea. A sea surge, yes, but not a "storm surge" because there's no storm.

This sea surge fuelled by the amihan (northwest moonsoon) is capping the flow to the sea of these northward-flowing rivers. That's why the river banks are being breached. And also why flooding occurs in the upper reaches of the rivers.

This is one relationship that people must understand. A strong amihan produce a southward-flowing sea surge capping the northward-flowing rivers thereby slowing their capacity to empty to sea and this in turn cause the river to overflow its banks. During habagat, the relationship is reversed. Southward-flowing rivers are bottled up by the sea surge going north.

If tropical cyclones or typhoons are not all bad so do this phenomenon. Storms and typhoons are the primary elements the sea and oceans have in order to cleanse themselves. Sea surges and storm surges have the capability to push back river flows. It is known that Manila Bay sea water even enters the Laguna de Bay through the Pasig River and these cleanses the lake. Flooding and the entry of sea water does the same for rivers.

But herein lies the classic confrontation between man and nature. In the olden days man will simply just give way to nature. But with ever-burgeoning population pressures and urbanization man now occupy nature's former path.

And so disasters occur.


[Photo credit:Agence France-Presse]

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