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Typhoon Fengshen (2008)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Fengshen was the sixth named storm and the fourth typhoon recognised by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center recognised Fengshen as the seventh tropical depression, the sixth tropical storm, and fifth typhoon of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season
.
Fengshen made a direct hit on the Philippines
and China
, leaving severe damage and resulted in at least 1354 deaths and leaving 41 people missing. 846 of the 922 people on board the Princess of the Stars
were killed when the ship capsized. Still, the Philippines is the most heavily affected country in the wake of Fengshen.
Early on June 15, 2008, a tropical disturbance formed about 305 nmi (564.9 km) to the south of Yap. At this time the disturbance had convection flaring over a wide low level circulation centre and was located within an area of low vertical wind shear. Over the next couple of days the disturbance moved towards the northwest and was designated as a Tropical Depression late on June 17, by the Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMA) who run the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
in Tokyo, Japan. Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
as convective banding had continued to consolidate around the low level circulation center. Early the next day the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
named the depression as Frank. The JTWC then designated Frank as Tropical Depression 07W later that day whilst Frank was positioned to the south of a low level subtropical ridge of low pressure. Later that day the JTWC reported that Frank had intensified into a Tropical Storm. Early on June 19, the JMA upgraded the depression to a Tropical Storm and named it as Tropical Storm Fengshen.
Later that day Fengshen started rapidly intensify becoming a Severe Tropical Storm later that day and then both the JMA and the JTWC upgraded Fengshen to a Typhoon. Early the next day Fengshen made its first landfall on Samar Island
in the Philippines
. As Fengshen moved towards the northwest the typhoon continued to intensify.
Fengshen was initially forecast to go through the Bicol Region
but later on shifted its course further westward, eventually going towards the direction of Mindoro Province. However, before even reaching Mindoro it again shifted its direction northward towards the direction of Metro Manila
, mainly because of the weakening of the high pressure area system in the northern part of the Philippines.
Fengshen passed Metro Manila between 5 am and 6 am Sunday. With winds of 165 km/h ,This was confirmed by eyewitness reports of the weather becoming suddenly calm after strong winds and rains in Quezon City, Marikina, and other nearby areas.
Typhoon Fengshen, after creating havoc in the Philippines, travelled through the South China Sea early on June 23 and was heading northwards towards China. Soon after moving into the South China Sea, the JMA and PAGASA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm while the JTWC downgraded Fengshen from a typhoon to a tropical storm. PAGASA then issued its final advisory on Fengshen due to the storm leaving PAGASA's Area of Responsibility.
Around June 24 22:00 UTC, Tropical Storm Fengshen made landfall on Shenzhen
, Guangdong
, entering Mainland China
. The JTWC announced their final warning later that day.
(HKO), hoisted the Standby Signal No.1
for Hong Kong
as Fengshen had moved within 500 miles (800 km) of Hong Kong. During the afternoon of June 24 the HKO, cancelled the Standby Signal No.1 and hoisted the Strong Wind Signal No.3. During that evening as Fengshen had continued to strengthen the HKO cancelled the Strong Wind Signal No.3, and replaced it with the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NE as the gales were coming from the North East quarter of Fengshen. Early the next day two hours after the HKO had issued the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NE they cancelled it and hoisted the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NW instead, as the wind were now coming from the northwest. Later that day the HKO cancelled the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NW and hoisted the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 SW as the winds were now coming from the Southwest. At the same time the HKO issued the Amber Rainstorm warning
alongside the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 SW, Signal. 45 minutes later the HKO were forced to cancel the amber rainstorm warning and replace it with the red rainstorm warning. The HKO then cancelled the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 SW, later that morning and replaced it with the Strong Wind Signal No.3. All Rainstorm and Typhoon warnings were cancelled later that day.
province, 59 are reported killed and 40 missing. In Iloilo City
, 30,000 people were forced onto rooftops when a nearby reservoir burst. In the Bicol Region
, more than 200,000 people sought temporary shelter from the typhoon. Meanwhile, as the storm passed through Metro Manila
and its nearby provinces, it caused widespread brownout
which lasted for hours. Also, due to destruction, the PAGASA name Frank was retired. Typhoon Fengshen could be one of the deadliest typhoons to hit the Philippines, killing over 1,300 people here, mostly from the sinking of the Princess Of The Stars ferry during the storm (for more information on this, see the maritime tragedy article below.)
The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on June 23, 2008, reported that: 98 people died, 115 were missing, 66 were hurt, 99,687 families were affected, 155,564 houses were damaged, 53,706 were totally wrecked, and 109,837 were partially destroyed, in 10 regions, due to typhoon "Frank" as of Monday noon (excluding the MV Princess of the Stars incident). The Philippine National Red Cross
placed the death toll at 229. Frank destroyed P 500 million crops amid its P 1.7 billion damage to property in Iloilo. The US responded by donating P 4 million and sent USNS Stockham and US Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraftship, for rescue. AFP
reported 224 dead and 374 missing (598) as of Monday.
The Philippines
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that "Frank" damaged a total of P 3.2 billion worth of agricultural and fish products and more than 300 schools nationwide (P 212 million). Additional damages to infrastructure were pegged at P 750 million, and fishing boats at P110 million, or a total of P 4.27 billion pesos.
According to the latest NDCC Situation Report on Typhoon Frank (Fengshen), 557 were dead (excluding the deaths in the MV Princess of the Stars), 87 were missing and 826 wounded. Frank affected 4,784,634 persons in 6,377 barangays in 419 municipalities in 58 provinces all over the Philippines. Damages in agriculture amounted to almost PHP 7.542 billion while infrastructural losses made it to around PHP 5.983 billion, which, all in all, totaled to slightly more than PHP 13.525 billion. The most affected areas were Iloilo
, Capiz
, Aklan
and Antique in Panay Island
as well as Leyte
and Eastern Samar
in Region VIII.
, were capsized near Sibuyan Island
in San Fernando, Romblon
, and the Philippine Coast Guard
was unable to make a rescue attempt because of high waves. A rescue ship reached the MV Princess of the Stars, more than 24 hours after it lost radio contact at 12:30 p.m. EDT (04:30 GMT) on Saturday. About 700 people were on this ship at the time; it is unlikely there are any survivors, and, as of now, only a few have drifted ashore. Philippine Coast Guard
spokesman Lt. Senior Grade Arman Balilo, however, lamented: "They haven't seen anyone. They're scouring the area. They're studying the direction of the waves to determine where survivors may have drifted."
Xinhua reported that the four survivors witnessed "that the captain of the ship ordered the abandoning of the ship at noon Saturday, but many passengers did not even wear life vests when the ship capsized." Four survivors, Jesus Gica, Oliver Amorin, Jessie Buot, and Renato Lanorio, told GMA
news that "the ship did not malfunction, but only slowed down its speed as it encountered big waves off the coast of Romblon
." Gica saw many people jump, but "the waves were so big and the rains so strong that few of them could have possibly survived; the crew were so busy saving themselves that they did not care to help the passengers to wear safety vests, and that some of the passengers passed out while children and the elderly failed to wear life vests because they could no longer move when the ship was turning upside down."
San Fernando Mayor Nanette Tansingco confirmed that four others aboard died and hundreds of passengers were still missing. Dozens of people trooped to the offices of owner Sulpicio Lines, in Cebu and Manila
North Harbor in Manila.
The victims' families accused Sulpicio and the Philippine Coast Guard
of allowing the ship to set sail despite the bad weather. They further blamed Sulpicio for not personally informing them about the tragedy, the details of the accident, and the condition of the ship plus its passengers. Sulpicio's counsel Manuel Espitan, however stated that "the ship never received advice from Coast Guard, while Metro Manila
was still under public storm signal No. 1 when the ship left the port." Despite all these, there are even reports stating that the ferry actually passed the eye of the typhoon directly. BBC
quoted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
as saying: "Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers!"
, 317 flights were delayed and 26 flights were cancelled. As the Gale or Storm Signal No.8
was raised, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
had to delay opening the park until after the Signal had been downgraded to the Strong Wind Signal No.3. However the Strong Wind Signal No.3 caused all outside activity of Hong Kong Disneyland to be stopped.
Board of Marine Inquiry, in its 65-page report dated August 25, 2008 (submitted to the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina), found Sulpicio Lines
and its captain liable for the MV Princess of the Stars
June 21 maritime tragedy. The BMI recommended that Marina “consider the suspension of the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of Sulpicio Lines in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations (and its criminal liability for the sinking." The final report blamed human error, and ruled that the ship's missing and presumed dead captain, Florencio Marimon, "miscalculated" the risk of continuing the trip to Cebu
while the storm raged: "There was a failure of the master to exercise extraordinary diligence and good seamanship thereby committing an error of judgment. The immediate cause of the capsizing of MV Princess of the Stars was the failure of the Master to exercise extraordinary diligence and good seamanship thereby committing an error of judgment that brought MV Princess of the Stars in harm's way into the eye of typhoon Frank or Typhoon Fengshen (2008). It is found negligent for its failure to exercise its duty in ensuring that they transport passengers and cargo safely to (their) destination.”
Sulpicio said 52 survived the tragedy and 312 bodies were recovered of 825 passengers listed. The rest were declared missing and presumed dead. Sulpicio may appeal within 30 days, the Board's recommendation to the Maritime Industry Authority (Philippines)
and the Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, cargoes of 5 toxic pesticides and other poisonous substances are still on board the ferry and will be refloated on September. Sulpicio Lines, the 2nd largest cargo carrier in the Philippines, accounts for 40% of all cargo movement across the country.
. The name Fengshen was not retired by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee.
The name Frank has been assigned to a tropical cyclone 11 times worldwide. It has been used by PAGASA
once before, within the 2004 Pacific typhoon season
, and was assigned to Typhoon Conson. On June 27 after Typhoon Fengshen had dissipated PAGASA announced that they would be retiring the name Frank at the end of the season and would not be used to name another depression in the PAGASA Area of responsibility.
2008 Pacific typhoon season
The 2008 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it runs year-round in 2008, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
.
Fengshen made a direct hit on the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, leaving severe damage and resulted in at least 1354 deaths and leaving 41 people missing. 846 of the 922 people on board the Princess of the Stars
MV Princess of the Stars
MV Princess of the Stars was a ferry owned by Filipino shipping company Sulpicio Lines that capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of Typhoon Fengshen on June 21, 2008...
were killed when the ship capsized. Still, the Philippines is the most heavily affected country in the wake of Fengshen.
Meteorological history
Japan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
(JMA) who run the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
in Tokyo, Japan. Later that day the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert is a bulletin released by the U.S. Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii or the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Norfolk, Virginia, warning of the possibility of a tropical cyclone forming from a tropical disturbance that has been...
as convective banding had continued to consolidate around the low level circulation center. Early the next day the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
named the depression as Frank. The JTWC then designated Frank as Tropical Depression 07W later that day whilst Frank was positioned to the south of a low level subtropical ridge of low pressure. Later that day the JTWC reported that Frank had intensified into a Tropical Storm. Early on June 19, the JMA upgraded the depression to a Tropical Storm and named it as Tropical Storm Fengshen.
Later that day Fengshen started rapidly intensify becoming a Severe Tropical Storm later that day and then both the JMA and the JTWC upgraded Fengshen to a Typhoon. Early the next day Fengshen made its first landfall on Samar Island
Samar Island
Samar is an island in the Visayas, within the central Philippines. The island is divided into three provinces: Samar province, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. These three provinces, along with the provinces on the nearby islands of Leyte and Biliran are part of the Eastern Visayas region...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. As Fengshen moved towards the northwest the typhoon continued to intensify.
Fengshen was initially forecast to go through the Bicol Region
Bicol Region
The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Its regional center is Legazpi City...
but later on shifted its course further westward, eventually going towards the direction of Mindoro Province. However, before even reaching Mindoro it again shifted its direction northward towards the direction of Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, mainly because of the weakening of the high pressure area system in the northern part of the Philippines.
Fengshen passed Metro Manila between 5 am and 6 am Sunday. With winds of 165 km/h ,This was confirmed by eyewitness reports of the weather becoming suddenly calm after strong winds and rains in Quezon City, Marikina, and other nearby areas.
Typhoon Fengshen, after creating havoc in the Philippines, travelled through the South China Sea early on June 23 and was heading northwards towards China. Soon after moving into the South China Sea, the JMA and PAGASA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm while the JTWC downgraded Fengshen from a typhoon to a tropical storm. PAGASA then issued its final advisory on Fengshen due to the storm leaving PAGASA's Area of Responsibility.
Around June 24 22:00 UTC, Tropical Storm Fengshen made landfall on Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, entering Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. The JTWC announced their final warning later that day.
Forecasting Errors
Typhoon Fengshen was poorly forecasted throughout its lifetime with all of the forecasts predicting that Fengshen would track to the northwest. Instead of this Fengshen tracked towards the west and affected the Philippines.Philippines
From June 20 to June 23, in response to Typhoon Fengshen (Frank) threatening the Philippines, PAGASA at various times issued Public Storm Warning Signal #3 for various parts of Luzon and Visayas as well as Storm Warning Signals 1 & 2 for some parts of Mindanao (specially around the Surigao area). Gradually over the next few days these storm warnings were scaled back as Typhoon Fengshen (Frank) moved through the country.Hong Kong
Early on June 23, the Hong Kong ObservatoryHong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory is a department of the Hong Kong government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards...
(HKO), hoisted the Standby Signal No.1
Hong Kong Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals
The Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals or informally typhoon signals are a set of signals used to indicate the threat or effects of a tropical cyclone. The Hong Kong Observatory issues the warning signal if a tropical cyclone is centred within of Hong Kong and may affect Hong Kong later...
for Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
as Fengshen had moved within 500 miles (800 km) of Hong Kong. During the afternoon of June 24 the HKO, cancelled the Standby Signal No.1 and hoisted the Strong Wind Signal No.3. During that evening as Fengshen had continued to strengthen the HKO cancelled the Strong Wind Signal No.3, and replaced it with the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NE as the gales were coming from the North East quarter of Fengshen. Early the next day two hours after the HKO had issued the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NE they cancelled it and hoisted the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NW instead, as the wind were now coming from the northwest. Later that day the HKO cancelled the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 NW and hoisted the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 SW as the winds were now coming from the Southwest. At the same time the HKO issued the Amber Rainstorm warning
Hong Kong rainstorm warning signals
The rainstorm warning signals are a set of signals used in Hong Kong to alert the public about the occurrence of heavy rain which is likely to bring about major disruptions such as traffic congestion and floods...
alongside the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 SW, Signal. 45 minutes later the HKO were forced to cancel the amber rainstorm warning and replace it with the red rainstorm warning. The HKO then cancelled the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 SW, later that morning and replaced it with the Strong Wind Signal No.3. All Rainstorm and Typhoon warnings were cancelled later that day.
Philippines
At least 598 people have been killed by the typhoon as it dropped torrential rain that caused flooding and mudslides in the Philippines, which means that it could be one of the top ten deadliest tropical cyclones in the Philippines. In IloiloIloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
province, 59 are reported killed and 40 missing. In Iloilo City
Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
, 30,000 people were forced onto rooftops when a nearby reservoir burst. In the Bicol Region
Bicol Region
The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Its regional center is Legazpi City...
, more than 200,000 people sought temporary shelter from the typhoon. Meanwhile, as the storm passed through Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
and its nearby provinces, it caused widespread brownout
Brownout (electricity)
A brownout is an intentional drop in voltage in an electrical power supply system used for load reduction in an emergency. The reduction lasts for minutes or hours, as opposed to short-term voltage sag or dip. The term brownout comes from the dimming experienced by lighting when the voltage sags...
which lasted for hours. Also, due to destruction, the PAGASA name Frank was retired. Typhoon Fengshen could be one of the deadliest typhoons to hit the Philippines, killing over 1,300 people here, mostly from the sinking of the Princess Of The Stars ferry during the storm (for more information on this, see the maritime tragedy article below.)
The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on June 23, 2008, reported that: 98 people died, 115 were missing, 66 were hurt, 99,687 families were affected, 155,564 houses were damaged, 53,706 were totally wrecked, and 109,837 were partially destroyed, in 10 regions, due to typhoon "Frank" as of Monday noon (excluding the MV Princess of the Stars incident). The Philippine National Red Cross
Philippine National Red Cross
Born officially in 1947, Philippine Red Cross , a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has roots that trace back to the revolutionary days...
placed the death toll at 229. Frank destroyed P 500 million crops amid its P 1.7 billion damage to property in Iloilo. The US responded by donating P 4 million and sent USNS Stockham and US Navy P-3 maritime surveillance aircraftship, for rescue. AFP
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
reported 224 dead and 374 missing (598) as of Monday.
The Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that "Frank" damaged a total of P 3.2 billion worth of agricultural and fish products and more than 300 schools nationwide (P 212 million). Additional damages to infrastructure were pegged at P 750 million, and fishing boats at P110 million, or a total of P 4.27 billion pesos.
According to the latest NDCC Situation Report on Typhoon Frank (Fengshen), 557 were dead (excluding the deaths in the MV Princess of the Stars), 87 were missing and 826 wounded. Frank affected 4,784,634 persons in 6,377 barangays in 419 municipalities in 58 provinces all over the Philippines. Damages in agriculture amounted to almost PHP 7.542 billion while infrastructural losses made it to around PHP 5.983 billion, which, all in all, totaled to slightly more than PHP 13.525 billion. The most affected areas were Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
, Capiz
Capiz
Capiz is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas City and is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan and Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north...
, Aklan
Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is located at the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east...
and Antique in Panay Island
Panay Island
Panay is an island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. Politically, it is divided into five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, all in the Western Visayas Region. It is located southeast of the island of Mindoro and northwest of Negros, separated by the...
as well as Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
and Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Borongan.-Location:...
in Region VIII.
MV Princess of the Stars
A ferry, the Princess of the StarsMV Princess of the Stars
MV Princess of the Stars was a ferry owned by Filipino shipping company Sulpicio Lines that capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of Typhoon Fengshen on June 21, 2008...
, were capsized near Sibuyan Island
Sibuyan Island
Sibuyan is a crescent-shaped island of Romblon Province, Philippines. It has an area of 445 km². The island has two prominent peaks, Mount Guiting-Guiting with a height of 2,058 m and Mount Nailog with a height of 789 m...
in San Fernando, Romblon
San Fernando, Romblon
San Fernando is a 4th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,214 people in 4,159 households.-Barangays:San Fernando is politically subdivided into 12 barangays.* Agtiwa...
, and the Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines....
was unable to make a rescue attempt because of high waves. A rescue ship reached the MV Princess of the Stars, more than 24 hours after it lost radio contact at 12:30 p.m. EDT (04:30 GMT) on Saturday. About 700 people were on this ship at the time; it is unlikely there are any survivors, and, as of now, only a few have drifted ashore. Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines....
spokesman Lt. Senior Grade Arman Balilo, however, lamented: "They haven't seen anyone. They're scouring the area. They're studying the direction of the waves to determine where survivors may have drifted."
Xinhua reported that the four survivors witnessed "that the captain of the ship ordered the abandoning of the ship at noon Saturday, but many passengers did not even wear life vests when the ship capsized." Four survivors, Jesus Gica, Oliver Amorin, Jessie Buot, and Renato Lanorio, told GMA
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
news that "the ship did not malfunction, but only slowed down its speed as it encountered big waves off the coast of Romblon
Romblon
Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
." Gica saw many people jump, but "the waves were so big and the rains so strong that few of them could have possibly survived; the crew were so busy saving themselves that they did not care to help the passengers to wear safety vests, and that some of the passengers passed out while children and the elderly failed to wear life vests because they could no longer move when the ship was turning upside down."
San Fernando Mayor Nanette Tansingco confirmed that four others aboard died and hundreds of passengers were still missing. Dozens of people trooped to the offices of owner Sulpicio Lines, in Cebu and Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
North Harbor in Manila.
The victims' families accused Sulpicio and the Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines....
of allowing the ship to set sail despite the bad weather. They further blamed Sulpicio for not personally informing them about the tragedy, the details of the accident, and the condition of the ship plus its passengers. Sulpicio's counsel Manuel Espitan, however stated that "the ship never received advice from Coast Guard, while Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
was still under public storm signal No. 1 when the ship left the port." Despite all these, there are even reports stating that the ferry actually passed the eye of the typhoon directly. BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
quoted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
as saying: "Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers!"
Hong Kong
Hong Kong was spared a direct hit from Typhoon Fengshen. However, it brought torrential rain and caused minor flooding, blocking major roads with fallen trees and signs. At the Hong Kong International AirportHong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
, 317 flights were delayed and 26 flights were cancelled. As the Gale or Storm Signal No.8
Hong Kong Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals
The Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals or informally typhoon signals are a set of signals used to indicate the threat or effects of a tropical cyclone. The Hong Kong Observatory issues the warning signal if a tropical cyclone is centred within of Hong Kong and may affect Hong Kong later...
was raised, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay...
had to delay opening the park until after the Signal had been downgraded to the Strong Wind Signal No.3. However the Strong Wind Signal No.3 caused all outside activity of Hong Kong Disneyland to be stopped.
Macau and other parts of the region
The Strong Wind Signal No.3 was issued in Macau and torrential rain and minor flooding spread throughout the region. The signal was cancelled when the typhoon gradually weakened. Fengshen caused only minor effects in this area, including light rainfall.MV Princess of the Stars
The 5-member PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Board of Marine Inquiry, in its 65-page report dated August 25, 2008 (submitted to the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina), found Sulpicio Lines
Sulpicio Lines
Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation is a shipping line in the Philippines. It is notable in the Philippines and around the world for owning and operating the vessel MV Doña Paz, which figured in the worst maritime disaster during peace time on December 20, 1987 where 4,375 people lost their...
and its captain liable for the MV Princess of the Stars
MV Princess of the Stars
MV Princess of the Stars was a ferry owned by Filipino shipping company Sulpicio Lines that capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of Typhoon Fengshen on June 21, 2008...
June 21 maritime tragedy. The BMI recommended that Marina “consider the suspension of the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of Sulpicio Lines in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations (and its criminal liability for the sinking." The final report blamed human error, and ruled that the ship's missing and presumed dead captain, Florencio Marimon, "miscalculated" the risk of continuing the trip to Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
while the storm raged: "There was a failure of the master to exercise extraordinary diligence and good seamanship thereby committing an error of judgment. The immediate cause of the capsizing of MV Princess of the Stars was the failure of the Master to exercise extraordinary diligence and good seamanship thereby committing an error of judgment that brought MV Princess of the Stars in harm's way into the eye of typhoon Frank or Typhoon Fengshen (2008). It is found negligent for its failure to exercise its duty in ensuring that they transport passengers and cargo safely to (their) destination.”
Sulpicio said 52 survived the tragedy and 312 bodies were recovered of 825 passengers listed. The rest were declared missing and presumed dead. Sulpicio may appeal within 30 days, the Board's recommendation to the Maritime Industry Authority (Philippines)
Maritime Industry Authority (Philippines)
The Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority , abbreviated as MARINA, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Transportation and Communications responsible for integrating the development, promotion and regulation of the maritime industry in the Philippines.-History:The...
and the Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, cargoes of 5 toxic pesticides and other poisonous substances are still on board the ferry and will be refloated on September. Sulpicio Lines, the 2nd largest cargo carrier in the Philippines, accounts for 40% of all cargo movement across the country.
Naming
The name Fengshen was submitted to the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee by the People’s Republic of China for use from January 1, 2000 and is the Mandarin Chinese name for the God of Wind. This was the second time that the name Fengshen had been used in the Western Pacific, as it had previously been used in the 2002 Pacific typhoon season2002 Pacific typhoon season
A Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued on July 19 for a Tropical Disturbance that was located east of the international Date Line. The Next day the Disturbance crossed the international date line and was classified as a Tropical Depression by the JMA. The JMA then upgraded the depression to...
. The name Fengshen was not retired by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee.
The name Frank has been assigned to a tropical cyclone 11 times worldwide. It has been used by PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
once before, within the 2004 Pacific typhoon season
2004 Pacific typhoon season
The 2004 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2004, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
, and was assigned to Typhoon Conson. On June 27 after Typhoon Fengshen had dissipated PAGASA announced that they would be retiring the name Frank at the end of the season and would not be used to name another depression in the PAGASA Area of responsibility.
External links
- The JMA's Best Track Data on Typhoon Fengshen (0806)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Graphics) on Typhoon Megi (0806)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Text)
- The JTWC's Best Track Data on Typhoon 07W (Fengshen)
