Typhoon Nesat (2011)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Nesat was the most powerful tropical cyclone
to directly impact China since 2005. It also struck the Philippines during the 2011 Pacific typhoon season
, killing 83 people. It is the 17th named storm, the 11th severe tropical storm, the 7th typhoon and overall, the 30th tropical cyclone to be monitored by the Japan Meteorological Agency
during the year. Nesat came exactly two years after Typhoon Ketsana made landfall in the Philippines as the most devastating typhoon in the 2009 Pacific typhoon season
with a damage of $
1.09 billion and 747 fatalities. Nesat was also the first of twin tropical cyclones to batter the Philippines within one week during September 2011, the second was Nalgae
.
The low pressure area that was about to become Nesat developed on the evening of September 21, to the east-southeast of Palau. The JTWC originally anticipated Nesat to become a Category 5 super typhoon on the SSHS with winds exceeding 130 knots (240 km/h; 150 mph) (1-min sustained). However, because of a cold anomaly, the system only reached a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (194 km/h; 121 mph) making it a powerful Category 3 typhoon. Nesat made landfall over the Luzon region of Philippines and the maximum 1-min sustained winds dropped to 95 knots (176 km/h; 109 mph). The system continued to weaken with convective banding loosely wrapped into the partially exposed LLCC. The winds continued to drop and eventually reached 65 knots (120 km/h; 75 mph) (1-min sustained) which made it a minimal typhoon on the SSHS. On September 29, by the time Nesat managed to re-develop ad 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) ragged eye, it made landfall over Wenchang in Hainan, China and started weakening again. Due to the rapid weakening, the JTWC ceased advisories on the storm, soon afterwards. Later that evening, the JMA downgraded Nesat to a tropical low over land and issued their final warning on the system.
As Nesat neared the Philippines, the local government ordered the evacuation of residents living in low-lying areas, cancelled flights and suspended classes on all levels. Several provinces were placed under Signal Number 2 and 1. China's flood control authority activated their emergency response system so that they can cope up with the upcoming typhoons Nesat, and Nalgae. The authority requested local governments in relevant areas to closely monitor both the typhoons and keep the public aware of what is happening. They initiated a level IV typhoon response program and sent two working teams to the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan so that they can assist people in all the preparations that they have to make. Ships were recalled, flight and ferry services were suspended and schools were shut as the strongest typhoon to directly impact Hainan in 2011 was approaching its final landfall. Macao's public transportation system was also suspended after typhoon signal No. 8 was hoisted by most local meteorological authorities. In Hong Kong, many functions and activities were canceled or postponed because of the fast approaching storm.
Early on September 27, Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines with a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (194 km/h; 121 mph) and killed four people after pinning them under a collapsed wall in Valenzuela. The residents of Manila had no other choice but to wade through waist-deep flood
waters, dodging branches and flying debris
as the typhoon sent surging waves as tall as palm trees over seawalls completely submerging neighborhoods. The typhoon made landfall before dawn triggering instant response. Officials in the Albay province said that "About 112,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in five towns prone to flashfloods and landslides in central Albay province. Among the hardest hit provinces were Isabela and Aurora where most of the population was directly dependent on Agriculture. Very similar to what happened after Ketsana, a state of calamity was declared in Luzon in order to undertake an emergency procedure in order to ensure safe and timely water releases from the dams. Nesat approached China just one day after the preparations for it started. Because of the low strength of the storm, the damages from Nesat to china were expected to be near US$ 50 million. The typhoon then hit Vietnam and weakened into a tropical storm.
. The low gradually drifted west and became more well organized prompting the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on it. Later, the LLCC became well organized with flaring deep convection developing around it, so the JMA started monitoring the low as a tropical depression. Later on September 23, the JTWC also initiated advisories on the system designating it with 20W. Early on September 24, the JMA further upgraded 20W to a tropical storm and named it Nesat. Nesat continued to drift west with expanding deep convection around the entire system and consolidating convection around the LLCC. The mid-level warm anomaly near the system continued to intensify and convective banding near the LLCC became more and more tighter. As a result, the JMA upgraded Nesat to a severe tropical storm on September 25. Nesat was originally expected to have undergone rapid intensification until September 25, but the JTWC later reported that the sea surface temperatures was a little less than expected and Nesat could not strengthen rapidly. However, Nesat was still strengthening. With an extremely well developed equatoward outflow, Nesat already had a windspeed of 75 knots (40.8 m/s) (1-min sustained). Late on September 25, the JMA further upgraded Nesat to a typhoon.
On September 26, an image from Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
(AMSU), a multi-channel microwave radiometer
installed on meteorological satellites depicted that Nesat developed an eye
like feature approximately 225 nautical miles (416.7 km) east-northeast of Manila, Philippines. At that time, it had a 1-min sustained wind speed of 80 knots (43.6 m/s) with deep convection primarily over the western semicircle of the system. The system rapidly deepened and quickly developed a 30 nautical miles (55.6 km) ragged eye and mesoscale
anticyclone
aloft generating an exceptionally excellent all-around outflow. Also, the system had a highly symmetric radial outflow
. The JTWC Originally anticipated Nesat to become a Category 5 super typhoon on the SSHS with winds exceeding 130 knots (70.8 m/s) (1-min sustained). However, because of a cold anomaly, the system only reached a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (57.2 m/s) making it a powerful Category 3 typhoon.
Early on September 27, Nesat made landfall over the Luzon region of Philippines. As a result, the eyewall got eroded and the maximum 1-min sustained winds dropped to 95 knots (51.7 m/s). The system approached land at nearly 10 knots (5.4 m/s). However, later on that day, the LLCC started to get re-consolidated with convection as Nesat quickly moved west and re-emerged over water. At that time, it was located near the southern periphery of a deep layered subtropical steering ridge
and moved towards the southwest and the winds further dropped to 85 knots (46.3 m/s) because of land interaction. Though the system has maintained overall central deep convection, subsidence
persisted along the northwest quadrant which caused further drop in wind speed. Upper level analysis indicated that Nesat was to the south of a ridge axis in an area of moderate vertical wind shear
. The system continued to weaken with convective banding loosely wrapped into the partially exposed LLCC. The winds continued to drop and eventually reached 65 knots (35.4 m/s) (1-min sustained) which made it a minimal typhoon on the SSHS. Though the weakening, Water vapour imagery showed that the typhoon was still maintaining excellent outflow towards the equator and improving outflow towards the pole. Nesat maintained a relatively large area of gale force winds. Animated infrared satellite imagery depicted that the storm was expanding in size and convective banding continued to move further and further away from the LLCC. The LLCC was also relatively large, elongated and cloud free.
On September 29, by the time Nesat managed to re-develop ad 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) ragged eye, it made landfall over Wenchang
in Hainan
, China
and started weakening again. Because of the poor shapre and disorganization at the LLCC, the typhoon could only maintain a maximum 1-min sustained windspeed of 65 knots (35.4 m/s). Even after the landfall, Nesat maintained vigorous convection all around the LLCC and did not weaken too much when compared to the reactions after the Philippine landfall
. There was a sea-surface temperature of approximately 28 °C (82.4 °F) and a slight vertical wind shear of 10 knots (5.4 m/s) near the system's center at that time. The JTWC anticipated the storm to gradually drift over the Gulf of Tonkin
and make landfall over Vietnam with a 1-min sustained wind speed of at-least 50 knots (27.2 m/s). Early on September 30, Nesat made its final landfall over northern Vietnam with a 1-mim sustained windspeed of 55 knots (29.9 m/s) and a well-defined, tightly wrapped LLCC, and soon it started weakening. Due to land interaction, the convection around the system started decaying rapidly. Due to the rapid weakening, the JTWC ceased advisories on the storm, soon afterwards. Later that evening, the JMA downgraded Nesat to a tropical low over land and issued their final warning on the system.
, the Philippine government ordered the evacuation of residents living in low-lying areas, cancelled flights and suspended classes on all levels. By the morning of September 26, some 111,000 people in the flood-prone areas of the Albay province were ordered to leave their homes. Nearly 63 flights were either delayed or cancelled due to the storm. The provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and the Camarines were placed under storm warning Signal Number 2 while the provinces of Metro Manila, Masbate, Marinduque, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga and a most of the Northern Luzon provinces were placed under storm warning Signal Number 1.. Even though Manila was placed in Storm Signal 2 (which suspends Pre-school, Elementary, and High school levels only), many universities, like the University of the Philippines Diliman & Manila and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Main Campus, suspended classes.
and Hainan
so that they can assist people in all the preparations that they have to make. The passenger ferry services linking the southern island province of Hainan and the rest of the nation were halted as typhoon Nesat neared land. Nesat was expected to be the strongest to hit Hainan in six years. The Hainan provincial meteorological bureau's director, Cai Qinbo, advised all people living in coastal areas to evacuate and also to brace for flash floods and other storm related natural disasters that Nesat may bring to the nation. Ships were recalled, flight and ferry services were suspended and schools were shut as the strongest typhoon to directly impact Hainan in 2011 was approaching its final landfall. In order to ensure the safety of the children, most kindergartens, primary and middle schools in Haikou
, the capital of Hainan suspended classes very early. The Meilan Airport in Haikou city canceled a total of 49 flights. In Hong Kong
, many functions and activities were canceled or postponed because of the fast approaching storm. The Hong Kong's stock market , all courts, tribunals, court registries and offices were completely shut for the rest of Semptember 29. Also, the education bureau announced suspension of all classes and the Hospital Authority suspended general out-patient and specialist clinics for the entire day too. In order to help people in need of refuge during the landfall, the city's Home Affairs Department opened 11 temporary shelters in various districts across Hainan province. Macao's public transportation system was also suspended after typhoon signal No. 8 was hoisted by most local meteorological authorities. Macao's Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau issued signal 8 while the storm was estimated to be about 350 km south of Macao at 4:00 a.m. local time. The local traffic authorities reacted in a timely manner and closed all the three sea-crossing bridges of the island city.
region of the Philippines triggering flash floods, cutting power and halting daily activity in the capital Manila. The Philippine Stock Exchange
and US embassy were forced to close due to the strong winds and heavy rains. The residents of Manila had no other choice but to wade through waist-deep floodwaters, dodging branches and flying debris as the typhoon sent surging waves as tall as palm trees over seawalls completely submerging neighborhoods. By the evening of September 27, at least 7 people were reported to be killed and most of them in metropolitan Manila, a place already battered by heavy monsoon
al rains. A motorist in the city reported that "It’s flooded everywhere. We don’t have a place to go for shelter. Even my motorcycle got filled with water". He was one of the thousands stranded by fast-rising flood in the city. Similar to the Tulane University
during Hurricane Katrina
, the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center
moved patients from its ground floor which was flooded with neck-deep waters. Hospital generators were flooded and the building had no power since the typhoon arrived. Soldiers and police in trucks moved thousands of residents, most importantly the women and the children away from the Baseco shanty after many houses were washed away in the storm surge
and floodwaters brought by Nesat. The typhoon made landfall before dawn triggering instant response. Officials in the Albay province said that "About 112,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in five towns prone to flash floods and landslides in central Albay province. By Monday, more than 50,000 had moved to government-run evacuation centers and relatives' homes". Authorities ordered more than a hundred thousand people across the country to flee from Typhoon Nesat's rains and wind gusts. Several schools and offices were shut and thousands were stranded after flight and ferry services were completely disrupted by the fierce storm.
Nearly thirty-seven percent of Manila Electric Company’s service area was left without power after high winds and heavy rains toppled power lines. A company spokeswoman reported that "About 1.9 million customers of the nation’s biggest power retailer are still without electricity. That’s about 39 percent of its 4.9 million customers, compared with 44 percent who were without power at midday." Also, in Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela the Manila Electric power company shut down power to prevent any accidents. Dina Lomotan, the company spokesman said that "Manila Electric will try to restore power as conditions permit, prioritizing areas not directly affected by the storm." Benigno Aquino III
, the 15th and current President of the Philippines
said "I have been in touch with Secretaries Soliman, Gazmin, and Almendras. I have instructed the Executive Secretary to compile information from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and to inform our people of conditions as well as of government efforts to mitigate the effects of the storm." He also said "I am in constant touch with the members of my cabinet and the Executive Secretary has been instructed to keep me and the public informed of conditions pertaining as well as mitigation efforts". On September 28, the death toll from Nesat was put at 18 and the number of missing at 35 after the day long rain and winds. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Benito Ramos said "We are focusing on trying to get power and telecommunications services today, and work crews have also fanned out to repair and clear 61 road networks across Luzon damaged by landslides, debris and floods". The extremely high storm surges brought by Nesat crashed over seawalls, flooding a hospital, a five-star hotel and the US embassy near Manila. As more power lines were downed, nearly a million people in Luzon and some areas in the capital Manila remained without power for the rest of September 27 and 28.
Among the hardest hit provinces were Isabela
and Aurora
where most of the population was directly dependent on Agriculture. Out of the total known deaths, most of them were reported to have occurred in and around metropolitan Manila. Santiago Austria, the mayor
of Jaen
, a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija said "We only have four boats but there are so many people waiting to be rescued. Many people here are still on top of their houses. We don't have enough boats to reach them and hand them food." The strong winds that blew through Manila toppled about 40 huge trees around the coastline from where thousands of people were moved from shantytowns into three different school buildings. The number of passengers stranded after Nesat's approach was as high as 4,476 in various ports 28 vessels and 20 motorized bancas
were stopped at several ports in Luzon. A spokesman from the Philippine Coast Guard
said that the bulk of stranded persons were stuck in ports in Manila, with 3,672; Lucena, 280; and Batangas, 140. By the night of September 28, Nesat's death toll eventually rose to 31. At that time, the first figures of the total estimated damage to agriculture and infrastructure started coming up and was put at 1 billion pesos (22.8 million U.S. dollars). The Philippine Department of Health
, which is the executive department
of the Philippine Government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health
services to all Filipinos prepared medical supplies including 2.9 million pesos (66,360 U.S. dollars) worth of food and emergency supplies so that they can be distributed among the victims when the flood water recedes.
in Isabela province was released prompting thousands of residents to flee to high grounds and evacuation centers. Magat Dam instrumentation section chief Saturnino Tenedor said that "The reservoir level breached the 193 meters above sea level (masl) critical level by 1.71 masl on Wednesday. Seven gates of the dam were opened." 55 Villages were flooded in the capital Ilagan and several rescue teams were going around town to rescue the residents who rushed to their rooftops. The Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said that "The release of water from the Angat, Bustos and Ipo dams caused widespread flooding in 21 towns including Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Plaridel, Calumpit, Pulilan, Paombong and Hagonoy." The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Philippine National Police (PNP) instantly responded to the state of emergency. The DSWD provided a total of 1.5-million Phillipine Peso worth of relief goods and the PNP dispatched personnel and medical teams in order to assist the victims. The National Electrification Administration administrator Edita Bueno said that "More than 900,000 out of 1.2 million consumers were still cut off from the grid, but repairs are ongoing and electric cooperatives would have to wait for the grid’s complete restoration before they could bring back electricity."
Again on October 1, the NDRRMC reported the number of dead was as high as 50, the number of injured was 61 and the number of missing was 31. They further increased the total damage from Nesat to both agriculture and infrastructure to around US$ 136,957,559 where nearly US$ 123,951,792 was to agriculture alone. They said that a total of 60 bridge/road sections were reported impassable during the storm. The reports also indicated that all the transmission lines affected by the typhoon were put back to normal and power was restored completely. The NDRRMC further added that the Philippine National Police deployed a total of 87 deployed personnel in Hermosa
, Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Pampanga; a total of 579 personnel deployed to help in the evacuation and rescue operations in the provinces of Aurora, Pampanga
, Bulacan
, Tarlac
, and Angeles City
. On October 2, the NDRRMC finalized the death toll to 52, the number of injured to 63 and the number of missing to 30. Also, they announced that the total damage to agriculture and infrastructure was amounted to US$ 153,316,943; making it one of the most destructive tropical cyclones ever to hit the archipelago.
However, again on October 3, the NDRRMC confirmed more deaths, putting the number of dead at 55; the number of injured at 65 and the number of missing at 2. Also, they announced that Nesat was one of the costliest typhoons to have affected the nation by putting the total damage from Nesat to both agriculture and infrastructure at US$ 201,749,712.
was shut down after the Hong Kong Observatory
hoisted a number eight storm signal. The government offices and courts were also closed, delaying the widely-anticipated ruling in Vallejos v. Commissioner of Registration
. The strong winds injured at-least three people after Nesat slammed into the southern Chinese island of Hainan forcing more than 100,000 people to leave their homes. Nesat was one of the strongest storms to strike the nation after the highest storm warning in two years was issued in Hong Kong as Typhoon Nesat swept past the city. All flights and high-speed railway services to the resort city of Sanya in Hainan were canceled or indefinitely delayed as the typhoon approached. Powerful tail winds from Nesat affected areas in the west coast of Sabah
on the northern part of Borneo
. The winds caused power lines being knocked down causing power outages affecting 15,000 consumers. The winds also caused trees being uprooted, and roofs and billboards destroyed. State Meteorological Department recorded winds up to 95kph. The typhoon then hit Vietnam
and weakened into a tropical storm. The disaster officials in Vietnam said that "The fish and shrimp farmers had been moved to safe areas along the northern and central coasts. Some 4,000 people, mostly the elderly, women and children, were also evacuated in three coastal districts in Nam Dinh province." The Flood and Storm Prevention and Control authority in Vietnam said that "No casualties were reported after the typhoon made landfall over the northern region of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong yesterday afternoon, but strong winds and heavy downpours resulted in significant property losses". The initial situation reports from the hard hit Quang Ninh province
showed that after three hours of battering, the roofs had been blown from nearly 300 houses, 11 vessels were lost and 1,700ha of subsidiary crops were submerged. Also, the total damage to the nation was estimated to be at US$ 2.4 million. At least 10 domestic flights were cancelled by Vietnam Airlines due to bad weather and nearly 4 trains between Ha Noi and Hai Phong City were delayed indefinitely. Severe flooding in the south claimed the lives of eight people in the Mekong Delta and forced thousands to leave their homes. Because of the low strength of the storm, the damages from Nesat to china were expected to be near US$ 50 million. AIR Worldwide said that "Insurance penetration for typhoons is quite low in China, particularly for residential risks, and insurance penetration varies by province, Hainan having one of the lowest rates in China." However, on October 4, the state run Xinhua News Agency confirmed that the damage exceeded 900 million United states dollars or 5.8 billion yuan as Nesat was one of the strongest typhoons to hit Hainan, affecting at-least 3.77 million people.
were reminded by the United States government "to carry their travel documents at all times and secure them in a safe and waterproof location." The government launched the helpline
numbers 1-888-407-4747 and 1-202-501-4444 so that the people traveling within the nation can obtain updated information from the Department of State. Also, the PAGASA insisted all people living in the low-lying areas to leave immediately. The said that "Even areas that are currently not flooded are in danger because water from flooded communities will eventually seep into neighboring areas." As preparations were underway, the president of Philippines said that "More troops and equipment from the Army, Navy and Air Force, including helicopters, have been deployed to flooded areas in Central Luzon to search and rescue affected residents". He added that the "National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has been taking all necessary precautions from early warning, pre-emptive evacuation to on-going relief and recovery operations amid the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring and the anticipated effects of Typhoon Quiel over the weekend." The PAGASA hoisted public storm warning signal number 3 in Cagayan
and Isabela
as the storm drifted closer. They said that "The coming storm is expected to bring strong winds, but authorities are more concerned about the amount of rainfall it will pour." Fears worsened as the typhoon came in less than 5 days after Nesat devastated the same place and also lead to a state of calamity being declared. Five towns in Cagayan were still flooded and the same place was to be hit by Nalgae, which is much more stronger than Nesat.
The Malacañang Palace
called on Filipinos, especially those in Metro Manila
to help each other whose properties have been devastated during the twin-typhoons Nesat and Nalgae, The Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said "Relief and rescue workers need boats that can maneuver in flooded areas in Central Luzon
, and volunteers who can help repack relief goods of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. he DSWD is repacking relief goods at its warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
. If you want to volunteer your services, you can do so. As for the wealthier Filipinos
who own rubber boats or speedboats and want to lend them to our authorities, they can get in touch with the local government officials concerned." The extremely strong winds blown by Nalgae set off a rockslide in northern Bontoc provincecausing boulders to roll down a mountainside and smash on a passing van, killing one man. In the rice-growing province of Bulacan
north of Manila, several hundreds of people in several towns remained trapped on their rooftops as the floodwaters brought by Nesat never retreated and more flooding and rain was brought by Nalgae. Rescuers aboard rubber boats could not reach them because the alleyways were too narrow. Officials said that two army helicopters would be later deployed to rescue the victims. Jay Mijares, a spokesman for the nonprofit humanitarian group, World Vision said that "The immediate need is ready-to-eat food and water. Survivors have no means to cook food. We are seeing a mass exodus of people looking for food, there is no supply, and on top of that their livelihood is disrupted. They have money but there's just nothing to buy." According to the disaster council NDRRMC, "Over the course of the weekend, the storm forced the closure of a number of bridges and made a number of roads impassable in the cities of Calasiao and Dagupan on Luzon island."
The Rescue workers scrambled through the floodwaters on October 2, so that they could be able to deliver food, water and other relief materials to hundreds of villagers stuck on rooftops since several days after the twin typhoons ravaged the nation. Seven towns north of Manila including Calumpit in rice-growing Bulacan province continued to be under waist-high waters after the rains brought by Nalgae, the 17th tropical cyclone to affect the disaster-prone nation in 2011. Helicopters were able to deliver food via air, but could rescue none of those who were on the rooftops since 4 days. Jay Mijares, a spokesman for the nonprofit humanitarian group, World Vision said that "The immediate need is ready-to-eat food and water. Survivors have no means to cook food. We are seeing a mass exodus of people looking for food, there is no supply, and on top of that their livelihood is disrupted. They have money but there's just nothing to buy." According to the disaster council NDRRMC, "Over the course of the weekend, the storm forced the closure of a number of bridges and made a number of roads impassable in the cities of Calasiao and Dagupan on Luzon island." On October 3, Philippine authorities rushed aid to thousands of people marooned in their flooded homes for a week since Nesat and Nalgae together battered the nation. After a long time, the flood water slowly started receding and the rescue workers were able to deliver food and other relief materials to those in need. In Calumpit. one of the worst hit towns, a construction worker in line for receiving the relief materials said to a new agency, "We have no food to eat, and no clean drinking water." It was later reported that atleast 8 million people living in the Philippines have experience faced much worse floods than the earlier destruction caused by typhoon Nesat. The disaster management chief Benito Ramos said "The fight is not over yet. I hope the (Nesat) floods will wash out to Manila Bay before the (Nalgae) runoff hits the area. If the latter catches up to the former, there won’t be any rooftops left to see above the floodwaters." The local weather agency announced that the water levels on the tributaries of major central Luzon rivers were still continuing to rise fast and posed a threat to the nearby towns and villages.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
to directly impact China since 2005. It also struck the Philippines during the 2011 Pacific typhoon season
2011 Pacific typhoon season
The 2011 Pacific typhoon season was the time of the year in which tropical cyclones form in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout 2011 with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator...
, killing 83 people. It is the 17th named storm, the 11th severe tropical storm, the 7th typhoon and overall, the 30th tropical cyclone to be monitored by the Japan Meteorological Agency
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...
during the year. Nesat came exactly two years after Typhoon Ketsana made landfall in the Philippines as the most devastating typhoon in the 2009 Pacific typhoon season
2009 Pacific typhoon season
The 2009 Pacific typhoon season was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout the year during 2009, with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator...
with a damage of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.09 billion and 747 fatalities. Nesat was also the first of twin tropical cyclones to batter the Philippines within one week during September 2011, the second was Nalgae
Typhoon Nalgae (2011)
Typhoon Nalgae was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Philippines, and it affected Hainan, China as a weak tropical storm...
.
The low pressure area that was about to become Nesat developed on the evening of September 21, to the east-southeast of Palau. The JTWC originally anticipated Nesat to become a Category 5 super typhoon on the SSHS with winds exceeding 130 knots (240 km/h; 150 mph) (1-min sustained). However, because of a cold anomaly, the system only reached a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (194 km/h; 121 mph) making it a powerful Category 3 typhoon. Nesat made landfall over the Luzon region of Philippines and the maximum 1-min sustained winds dropped to 95 knots (176 km/h; 109 mph). The system continued to weaken with convective banding loosely wrapped into the partially exposed LLCC. The winds continued to drop and eventually reached 65 knots (120 km/h; 75 mph) (1-min sustained) which made it a minimal typhoon on the SSHS. On September 29, by the time Nesat managed to re-develop ad 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) ragged eye, it made landfall over Wenchang in Hainan, China and started weakening again. Due to the rapid weakening, the JTWC ceased advisories on the storm, soon afterwards. Later that evening, the JMA downgraded Nesat to a tropical low over land and issued their final warning on the system.
As Nesat neared the Philippines, the local government ordered the evacuation of residents living in low-lying areas, cancelled flights and suspended classes on all levels. Several provinces were placed under Signal Number 2 and 1. China's flood control authority activated their emergency response system so that they can cope up with the upcoming typhoons Nesat, and Nalgae. The authority requested local governments in relevant areas to closely monitor both the typhoons and keep the public aware of what is happening. They initiated a level IV typhoon response program and sent two working teams to the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan so that they can assist people in all the preparations that they have to make. Ships were recalled, flight and ferry services were suspended and schools were shut as the strongest typhoon to directly impact Hainan in 2011 was approaching its final landfall. Macao's public transportation system was also suspended after typhoon signal No. 8 was hoisted by most local meteorological authorities. In Hong Kong, many functions and activities were canceled or postponed because of the fast approaching storm.
Early on September 27, Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines with a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (194 km/h; 121 mph) and killed four people after pinning them under a collapsed wall in Valenzuela. The residents of Manila had no other choice but to wade through waist-deep flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
waters, dodging branches and flying debris
Debris
Debris is rubble, wreckage, ruins, litter and discarded garbage/refuse/trash, scattered remains of something destroyed, or, in geology, large rock fragments left by a melting glacier etc. The singular form of debris is debris...
as the typhoon sent surging waves as tall as palm trees over seawalls completely submerging neighborhoods. The typhoon made landfall before dawn triggering instant response. Officials in the Albay province said that "About 112,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in five towns prone to flashfloods and landslides in central Albay province. Among the hardest hit provinces were Isabela and Aurora where most of the population was directly dependent on Agriculture. Very similar to what happened after Ketsana, a state of calamity was declared in Luzon in order to undertake an emergency procedure in order to ensure safe and timely water releases from the dams. Nesat approached China just one day after the preparations for it started. Because of the low strength of the storm, the damages from Nesat to china were expected to be near US$ 50 million. The typhoon then hit Vietnam and weakened into a tropical storm.
Meteorological history
In the evening of September 21, a low pressure area developed to the east-southeast of PalauPalau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
. The low gradually drifted west and became more well organized prompting the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) on it. Later, the LLCC became well organized with flaring deep convection developing around it, so the JMA started monitoring the low as a tropical depression. Later on September 23, the JTWC also initiated advisories on the system designating it with 20W. Early on September 24, the JMA further upgraded 20W to a tropical storm and named it Nesat. Nesat continued to drift west with expanding deep convection around the entire system and consolidating convection around the LLCC. The mid-level warm anomaly near the system continued to intensify and convective banding near the LLCC became more and more tighter. As a result, the JMA upgraded Nesat to a severe tropical storm on September 25. Nesat was originally expected to have undergone rapid intensification until September 25, but the JTWC later reported that the sea surface temperatures was a little less than expected and Nesat could not strengthen rapidly. However, Nesat was still strengthening. With an extremely well developed equatoward outflow, Nesat already had a windspeed of 75 knots (40.8 m/s) (1-min sustained). Late on September 25, the JMA further upgraded Nesat to a typhoon.
On September 26, an image from Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
The Advanced microwave sounding unit is a multi-channel microwave radiometer installed on meteorological satellites. The instrument examines several bands of microwave radiation from the atmosphere to perform atmospheric sounding of temperature and moisture levels.-Products:Level-1 radiance data...
(AMSU), a multi-channel microwave radiometer
Radiometer
A radiometer is a device for measuring the radiant flux of electromagnetic radiation. Generally, the term radiometer denotes an infrared radiation detector, yet it also includes detectors operating on any electromagnetic wavelength....
installed on meteorological satellites depicted that Nesat developed an eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
like feature approximately 225 nautical miles (416.7 km) east-northeast of Manila, Philippines. At that time, it had a 1-min sustained wind speed of 80 knots (43.6 m/s) with deep convection primarily over the western semicircle of the system. The system rapidly deepened and quickly developed a 30 nautical miles (55.6 km) ragged eye and mesoscale
Mesoscale meteorology
Mesoscale meteorology is the study of weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than microscale and storm-scale cumulus systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 5 kilometers to several hundred kilometers...
anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
aloft generating an exceptionally excellent all-around outflow. Also, the system had a highly symmetric radial outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
. The JTWC Originally anticipated Nesat to become a Category 5 super typhoon on the SSHS with winds exceeding 130 knots (70.8 m/s) (1-min sustained). However, because of a cold anomaly, the system only reached a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (57.2 m/s) making it a powerful Category 3 typhoon.
Early on September 27, Nesat made landfall over the Luzon region of Philippines. As a result, the eyewall got eroded and the maximum 1-min sustained winds dropped to 95 knots (51.7 m/s). The system approached land at nearly 10 knots (5.4 m/s). However, later on that day, the LLCC started to get re-consolidated with convection as Nesat quickly moved west and re-emerged over water. At that time, it was located near the southern periphery of a deep layered subtropical steering ridge
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
and moved towards the southwest and the winds further dropped to 85 knots (46.3 m/s) because of land interaction. Though the system has maintained overall central deep convection, subsidence
Subsidence (atmosphere)
Subsidence in the Earth's atmosphere is most commonly caused by low temperatures: as air cools, it becomes denser and moves towards the ground, just as warm air becomes less dense and moves upwards...
persisted along the northwest quadrant which caused further drop in wind speed. Upper level analysis indicated that Nesat was to the south of a ridge axis in an area of moderate vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
. The system continued to weaken with convective banding loosely wrapped into the partially exposed LLCC. The winds continued to drop and eventually reached 65 knots (35.4 m/s) (1-min sustained) which made it a minimal typhoon on the SSHS. Though the weakening, Water vapour imagery showed that the typhoon was still maintaining excellent outflow towards the equator and improving outflow towards the pole. Nesat maintained a relatively large area of gale force winds. Animated infrared satellite imagery depicted that the storm was expanding in size and convective banding continued to move further and further away from the LLCC. The LLCC was also relatively large, elongated and cloud free.
On September 29, by the time Nesat managed to re-develop ad 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) ragged eye, it made landfall over Wenchang
Wenchang
Wenchang is a county-level city located in the north east of Hainan province, China. It was promoted from a county to a city on November 7, 1995, and had a population of 86,551 in 1999...
in Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, 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...
and started weakening again. Because of the poor shapre and disorganization at the LLCC, the typhoon could only maintain a maximum 1-min sustained windspeed of 65 knots (35.4 m/s). Even after the landfall, Nesat maintained vigorous convection all around the LLCC and did not weaken too much when compared to the reactions after the Philippine landfall
Landfall (meteorology)
Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone or a waterspout coming onto land after being over water. When a waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado, which can then cause damage inland...
. There was a sea-surface temperature of approximately 28 °C (82.4 °F) and a slight vertical wind shear of 10 knots (5.4 m/s) near the system's center at that time. The JTWC anticipated the storm to gradually drift over the Gulf of Tonkin
Gulf of Tonkin
The Gulf of Tonkin is an arm of the South China Sea, lying off the coast of northeastern Vietnam.-Etymology:The name Tonkin, written "東京" in Hán tự and Đông Kinh in romanised Vietnamese, means "Eastern Capital", and is the former toponym for Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam...
and make landfall over Vietnam with a 1-min sustained wind speed of at-least 50 knots (27.2 m/s). Early on September 30, Nesat made its final landfall over northern Vietnam with a 1-mim sustained windspeed of 55 knots (29.9 m/s) and a well-defined, tightly wrapped LLCC, and soon it started weakening. Due to land interaction, the convection around the system started decaying rapidly. Due to the rapid weakening, the JTWC ceased advisories on the storm, soon afterwards. Later that evening, the JMA downgraded Nesat to a tropical low over land and issued their final warning on the system.
Philippines
As Nesat neared the 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...
, the Philippine government ordered the evacuation of residents living in low-lying areas, cancelled flights and suspended classes on all levels. By the morning of September 26, some 111,000 people in the flood-prone areas of the Albay province were ordered to leave their homes. Nearly 63 flights were either delayed or cancelled due to the storm. The provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and the Camarines were placed under storm warning Signal Number 2 while the provinces of Metro Manila, Masbate, Marinduque, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga and a most of the Northern Luzon provinces were placed under storm warning Signal Number 1.. Even though Manila was placed in Storm Signal 2 (which suspends Pre-school, Elementary, and High school levels only), many universities, like the University of the Philippines Diliman & Manila and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Main Campus, suspended classes.
China
On September 28, China's flood control authority activated their emergency response system so that they can cope up with the upcoming typhoons Nesat, and Nalgae. The authority requested local governments in relevant areas to closely monitor both the typhoons and keep the public aware of what is happening. They initiated a level IV typhoon response program and sent two working teams to the provinces of GuangdongGuangdong
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...
and Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
so that they can assist people in all the preparations that they have to make. The passenger ferry services linking the southern island province of Hainan and the rest of the nation were halted as typhoon Nesat neared land. Nesat was expected to be the strongest to hit Hainan in six years. The Hainan provincial meteorological bureau's director, Cai Qinbo, advised all people living in coastal areas to evacuate and also to brace for flash floods and other storm related natural disasters that Nesat may bring to the nation. Ships were recalled, flight and ferry services were suspended and schools were shut as the strongest typhoon to directly impact Hainan in 2011 was approaching its final landfall. In order to ensure the safety of the children, most kindergartens, primary and middle schools in Haikou
Haikou
Hǎikǒu , is the capital and most populous city of Hainan Province, in the People's Republic of China. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River...
, the capital of Hainan suspended classes very early. The Meilan Airport in Haikou city canceled a total of 49 flights. In 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...
, many functions and activities were canceled or postponed because of the fast approaching storm. The Hong Kong's stock market , all courts, tribunals, court registries and offices were completely shut for the rest of Semptember 29. Also, the education bureau announced suspension of all classes and the Hospital Authority suspended general out-patient and specialist clinics for the entire day too. In order to help people in need of refuge during the landfall, the city's Home Affairs Department opened 11 temporary shelters in various districts across Hainan province. Macao's public transportation system was also suspended after typhoon signal No. 8 was hoisted by most local meteorological authorities. Macao's Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau issued signal 8 while the storm was estimated to be about 350 km south of Macao at 4:00 a.m. local time. The local traffic authorities reacted in a timely manner and closed all the three sea-crossing bridges of the island city.
Impact
| Country | Casualties | Damage (USD) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | Injuries | Missing | ||
| Philippines | 83 | 73 | $333 million | |
| Vietnam | 8 | $2.4 million | ||
| China | 4 | 2 | $900 million | |
| Total | 95 | 75 | $1235.4 million | |
Philippines
Early on September 27, Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines with a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (57.2 m/s) and killed four people after pinning them under a collapsed wall in Valenzuela. The typhoon pounded the LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
region of the Philippines triggering flash floods, cutting power and halting daily activity in the capital Manila. The Philippine Stock Exchange
Philippine Stock Exchange
The Philippine Stock Exchange is the national stock exchange of the Philippines. It is one of the oldest stock exchanges in Southeast Asia, having been in continuous operation since its inception in 1927...
and US embassy were forced to close due to the strong winds and heavy rains. The residents of Manila had no other choice but to wade through waist-deep floodwaters, dodging branches and flying debris as the typhoon sent surging waves as tall as palm trees over seawalls completely submerging neighborhoods. By the evening of September 27, at least 7 people were reported to be killed and most of them in metropolitan Manila, a place already battered by heavy monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
al rains. A motorist in the city reported that "It’s flooded everywhere. We don’t have a place to go for shelter. Even my motorcycle got filled with water". He was one of the thousands stranded by fast-rising flood in the city. Similar to the Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
during Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center
Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center
The Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center is a 300-bed non-profit tertiary, general and training hospital in Malate, Manila, Philippines...
moved patients from its ground floor which was flooded with neck-deep waters. Hospital generators were flooded and the building had no power since the typhoon arrived. Soldiers and police in trucks moved thousands of residents, most importantly the women and the children away from the Baseco shanty after many houses were washed away in the storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
and floodwaters brought by Nesat. The typhoon made landfall before dawn triggering instant response. Officials in the Albay province said that "About 112,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in five towns prone to flash floods and landslides in central Albay province. By Monday, more than 50,000 had moved to government-run evacuation centers and relatives' homes". Authorities ordered more than a hundred thousand people across the country to flee from Typhoon Nesat's rains and wind gusts. Several schools and offices were shut and thousands were stranded after flight and ferry services were completely disrupted by the fierce storm.
Nearly thirty-seven percent of Manila Electric Company’s service area was left without power after high winds and heavy rains toppled power lines. A company spokeswoman reported that "About 1.9 million customers of the nation’s biggest power retailer are still without electricity. That’s about 39 percent of its 4.9 million customers, compared with 44 percent who were without power at midday." Also, in Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela the Manila Electric power company shut down power to prevent any accidents. Dina Lomotan, the company spokesman said that "Manila Electric will try to restore power as conditions permit, prioritizing areas not directly affected by the storm." Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
, the 15th and current President of the Philippines
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
said "I have been in touch with Secretaries Soliman, Gazmin, and Almendras. I have instructed the Executive Secretary to compile information from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and to inform our people of conditions as well as of government efforts to mitigate the effects of the storm." He also said "I am in constant touch with the members of my cabinet and the Executive Secretary has been instructed to keep me and the public informed of conditions pertaining as well as mitigation efforts". On September 28, the death toll from Nesat was put at 18 and the number of missing at 35 after the day long rain and winds. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Benito Ramos said "We are focusing on trying to get power and telecommunications services today, and work crews have also fanned out to repair and clear 61 road networks across Luzon damaged by landslides, debris and floods". The extremely high storm surges brought by Nesat crashed over seawalls, flooding a hospital, a five-star hotel and the US embassy near Manila. As more power lines were downed, nearly a million people in Luzon and some areas in the capital Manila remained without power for the rest of September 27 and 28.
Among the hardest hit provinces were Isabela
Isabela province
Isabela is the second largest province of the Philippines next to Palawan. It is located in the Cagayan Valley Region in Luzon. Its capital is Ilagan and borders, clockwise from the south, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Cagayan...
and Aurora
Aurora province
Aurora is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Baler and borders, clockwise from the south, the provinces of Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Isabela. To the east of Aurora is the Philippine Sea.Before 1979, Aurora was part of...
where most of the population was directly dependent on Agriculture. Out of the total known deaths, most of them were reported to have occurred in and around metropolitan Manila. Santiago Austria, the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Jaen
Jaen, Nueva Ecija
Jaen is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 63,474 people in 11,472 households.-Barangays:Jaen is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.* Calabasa...
, a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija said "We only have four boats but there are so many people waiting to be rescued. Many people here are still on top of their houses. We don't have enough boats to reach them and hand them food." The strong winds that blew through Manila toppled about 40 huge trees around the coastline from where thousands of people were moved from shantytowns into three different school buildings. The number of passengers stranded after Nesat's approach was as high as 4,476 in various ports 28 vessels and 20 motorized bancas
Jukung
A jukung or canoe is a small wooden Indonesian boat. It is a traditional fishing boat, but newer uses include "Jukung Dives", using the boat as a vehicle for small groups of SCUBA divers...
were stopped at several ports in Luzon. A spokesman from 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....
said that the bulk of stranded persons were stuck in ports in Manila, with 3,672; Lucena, 280; and Batangas, 140. By the night of September 28, Nesat's death toll eventually rose to 31. At that time, the first figures of the total estimated damage to agriculture and infrastructure started coming up and was put at 1 billion pesos (22.8 million U.S. dollars). The Philippine Department of Health
Department of Health (Philippines)
The Philippines’ Department of Health is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and the regulation of...
, which is the executive department
Executive Departments of the Philippines
The Executive departments of the Philippines is the largest component of the national executive branch of the government of the Philippines. There are a total of nineteen executive departments. The departments comprise the largest part of the country's bureaucracy...
of the Philippine Government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
services to all Filipinos prepared medical supplies including 2.9 million pesos (66,360 U.S. dollars) worth of food and emergency supplies so that they can be distributed among the victims when the flood water recedes.
State of calamity
Very similar to what happened after Ketsana, a state of calamity was declared in Luzon in order to undertake an emergency procedure in order to ensure safe and timely water releases from the dams. As several thousands of people still remained without power, Alfredo Panlilio, the Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communications said that "These are mostly isolated circuits, or circuits which have been badly damaged, or the restoration of which is made more difficult by obstructions like debris." Unusually, most of the rainfall from the typhoon came long after its landfall, as it moved toward the West Philippine Sea. Only then did the residents of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon began feeling the impact of the heavy rains it dumped. The rivers started swelling and the water in Magat DamMagat Dam
Magat Dam is a large rock-fill dam on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The dam is located on Magat River, a major tributary of Cagayan River. Construction of the dam started in 1975 and completed in 1982...
in Isabela province was released prompting thousands of residents to flee to high grounds and evacuation centers. Magat Dam instrumentation section chief Saturnino Tenedor said that "The reservoir level breached the 193 meters above sea level (masl) critical level by 1.71 masl on Wednesday. Seven gates of the dam were opened." 55 Villages were flooded in the capital Ilagan and several rescue teams were going around town to rescue the residents who rushed to their rooftops. The Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said that "The release of water from the Angat, Bustos and Ipo dams caused widespread flooding in 21 towns including Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Plaridel, Calumpit, Pulilan, Paombong and Hagonoy." The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Philippine National Police (PNP) instantly responded to the state of emergency. The DSWD provided a total of 1.5-million Phillipine Peso worth of relief goods and the PNP dispatched personnel and medical teams in order to assist the victims. The National Electrification Administration administrator Edita Bueno said that "More than 900,000 out of 1.2 million consumers were still cut off from the grid, but repairs are ongoing and electric cooperatives would have to wait for the grid’s complete restoration before they could bring back electricity."
NDRRMC Situation reports
Early on September 29, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) issued a Situation report on the typhoon mentioning that at-least 35 people were killed while 34 were injured and 45 still remained missing. The also added that the total amount of damage to agriculture and infrastructure was put at US$ 26,208,476. They mentioned that a total of 83 emergency incidents were monitored in various regions that were directly hit by the typhoon. In the hardest hit provinces, at-least 25 folding beds; 18 tents; 40 boxes of blankets; 125 pieces of plastic mat; 200 pieces of water jugs; 125 pieces of mosquito nets; 5 pieces of protective suits; 5 pairs of goggles; 5 pieces of oil resistant boots, 5 pieces of rain coats; 10 pieces of gloves; 5 pieces of helmets; and 10 pieces of T-shirts were provided to the victims. Following the daily pattern of Situation reports, the NDRRMC issued another report on September 30, pushing up the number of dead to 43, the number of injured to 44 while pulling down the number of missing to 30. They reported that the total number of people affected were 986,417 in about 205,885 families. They also announced that there was a drastic increase in the total ammount of damage from Nesat to both agriculture and infrastructure. They said that the total damage was at US$ 91,356,378 out of which US$ 78,893,835 was to agriculture alone. According to the report, the storm completely destroyed a total of 3,394 houses while 12,901 were badly damaged.Again on October 1, the NDRRMC reported the number of dead was as high as 50, the number of injured was 61 and the number of missing was 31. They further increased the total damage from Nesat to both agriculture and infrastructure to around US$ 136,957,559 where nearly US$ 123,951,792 was to agriculture alone. They said that a total of 60 bridge/road sections were reported impassable during the storm. The reports also indicated that all the transmission lines affected by the typhoon were put back to normal and power was restored completely. The NDRRMC further added that the Philippine National Police deployed a total of 87 deployed personnel in Hermosa
Hermosa, Bataan
Hermosa is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 52,484 people in 8,988 households."Hermosa" means "beautiful" in Spanish, like the Portuguese formosa.-Barangays:...
, Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Pampanga; a total of 579 personnel deployed to help in the evacuation and rescue operations in the provinces of Aurora, Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
, Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
, and Angeles City
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
. On October 2, the NDRRMC finalized the death toll to 52, the number of injured to 63 and the number of missing to 30. Also, they announced that the total damage to agriculture and infrastructure was amounted to US$ 153,316,943; making it one of the most destructive tropical cyclones ever to hit the archipelago.
However, again on October 3, the NDRRMC confirmed more deaths, putting the number of dead at 55; the number of injured at 65 and the number of missing at 2. Also, they announced that Nesat was one of the costliest typhoons to have affected the nation by putting the total damage from Nesat to both agriculture and infrastructure at US$ 201,749,712.
China, Malaysia and Vietnam
Nesat approached China just one day after the preparations for it started. On September 29, the Hong Kong Stock ExchangeHong Kong Stock Exchange
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Hong Kong. It is Asia's third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange and fifth largest in the world...
was shut down after the Hong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory is a department of the Hong Kong government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards...
hoisted a number eight storm signal. The government offices and courts were also closed, delaying the widely-anticipated ruling in Vallejos v. Commissioner of Registration
Vallejos v. Commissioner of Registration
Vallejos v. Commissioner of Registration is a 2011 court case against the government of Hong Kong by a foreign domestic helper seeking permanent residence and the right of abode in Hong Kong. Because of its subject matter it was commonly referred to in the media as the "maids' residency case"...
. The strong winds injured at-least three people after Nesat slammed into the southern Chinese island of Hainan forcing more than 100,000 people to leave their homes. Nesat was one of the strongest storms to strike the nation after the highest storm warning in two years was issued in Hong Kong as Typhoon Nesat swept past the city. All flights and high-speed railway services to the resort city of Sanya in Hainan were canceled or indefinitely delayed as the typhoon approached. Powerful tail winds from Nesat affected areas in the west coast of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
on the northern part of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. The winds caused power lines being knocked down causing power outages affecting 15,000 consumers. The winds also caused trees being uprooted, and roofs and billboards destroyed. State Meteorological Department recorded winds up to 95kph. The typhoon then hit Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and weakened into a tropical storm. The disaster officials in Vietnam said that "The fish and shrimp farmers had been moved to safe areas along the northern and central coasts. Some 4,000 people, mostly the elderly, women and children, were also evacuated in three coastal districts in Nam Dinh province." The Flood and Storm Prevention and Control authority in Vietnam said that "No casualties were reported after the typhoon made landfall over the northern region of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong yesterday afternoon, but strong winds and heavy downpours resulted in significant property losses". The initial situation reports from the hard hit Quang Ninh province
Quang Ninh Province
Quảng Ninh is a large province located along the northeastern coast of Vietnam. The province is home to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site. The provincial capital is Ha Long. Nearly 80 per cent of the province is mountainous with abundant land, forest water and mineral resources. Nearly 90 per...
showed that after three hours of battering, the roofs had been blown from nearly 300 houses, 11 vessels were lost and 1,700ha of subsidiary crops were submerged. Also, the total damage to the nation was estimated to be at US$ 2.4 million. At least 10 domestic flights were cancelled by Vietnam Airlines due to bad weather and nearly 4 trains between Ha Noi and Hai Phong City were delayed indefinitely. Severe flooding in the south claimed the lives of eight people in the Mekong Delta and forced thousands to leave their homes. Because of the low strength of the storm, the damages from Nesat to china were expected to be near US$ 50 million. AIR Worldwide said that "Insurance penetration for typhoons is quite low in China, particularly for residential risks, and insurance penetration varies by province, Hainan having one of the lowest rates in China." However, on October 4, the state run Xinhua News Agency confirmed that the damage exceeded 900 million United states dollars or 5.8 billion yuan as Nesat was one of the strongest typhoons to hit Hainan, affecting at-least 3.77 million people.
Typhoon Nalgae
On September 30, the Americans living in 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...
were reminded by the United States government "to carry their travel documents at all times and secure them in a safe and waterproof location." The government launched the helpline
Helpline
A helpline was originally a telephone service which offers help to those who call. Many helpline services now offer more than telephone support - offering access to information, advice or customer service via telephone, email, web or SMS....
numbers 1-888-407-4747 and 1-202-501-4444 so that the people traveling within the nation can obtain updated information from the Department of State. Also, the PAGASA insisted all people living in the low-lying areas to leave immediately. The said that "Even areas that are currently not flooded are in danger because water from flooded communities will eventually seep into neighboring areas." As preparations were underway, the president of Philippines said that "More troops and equipment from the Army, Navy and Air Force, including helicopters, have been deployed to flooded areas in Central Luzon to search and rescue affected residents". He added that the "National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has been taking all necessary precautions from early warning, pre-emptive evacuation to on-going relief and recovery operations amid the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring and the anticipated effects of Typhoon Quiel over the weekend." The PAGASA hoisted public storm warning signal number 3 in Cagayan
Cagayan
Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
and Isabela
Isabela
-Places:* Isabela, Puerto Rico* Isabela Island of the Galápagos Islands* La Isabela in the Dominican Republic, first settlement of Columbus in the New World* Isabela , Philippines* Isabela City, Basilan, Philippines...
as the storm drifted closer. They said that "The coming storm is expected to bring strong winds, but authorities are more concerned about the amount of rainfall it will pour." Fears worsened as the typhoon came in less than 5 days after Nesat devastated the same place and also lead to a state of calamity being declared. Five towns in Cagayan were still flooded and the same place was to be hit by Nalgae, which is much more stronger than Nesat.
The Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
called on Filipinos, especially those in 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...
to help each other whose properties have been devastated during the twin-typhoons Nesat and Nalgae, The Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said "Relief and rescue workers need boats that can maneuver in flooded areas in Central Luzon
Central Luzon
Central Luzon , also known as Region III , is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon , for administrative convenience...
, and volunteers who can help repack relief goods of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. he DSWD is repacking relief goods at its warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
. If you want to volunteer your services, you can do so. As for the wealthier Filipinos
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
who own rubber boats or speedboats and want to lend them to our authorities, they can get in touch with the local government officials concerned." The extremely strong winds blown by Nalgae set off a rockslide in northern Bontoc provincecausing boulders to roll down a mountainside and smash on a passing van, killing one man. In the rice-growing province of Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
north of Manila, several hundreds of people in several towns remained trapped on their rooftops as the floodwaters brought by Nesat never retreated and more flooding and rain was brought by Nalgae. Rescuers aboard rubber boats could not reach them because the alleyways were too narrow. Officials said that two army helicopters would be later deployed to rescue the victims. Jay Mijares, a spokesman for the nonprofit humanitarian group, World Vision said that "The immediate need is ready-to-eat food and water. Survivors have no means to cook food. We are seeing a mass exodus of people looking for food, there is no supply, and on top of that their livelihood is disrupted. They have money but there's just nothing to buy." According to the disaster council NDRRMC, "Over the course of the weekend, the storm forced the closure of a number of bridges and made a number of roads impassable in the cities of Calasiao and Dagupan on Luzon island."
The Rescue workers scrambled through the floodwaters on October 2, so that they could be able to deliver food, water and other relief materials to hundreds of villagers stuck on rooftops since several days after the twin typhoons ravaged the nation. Seven towns north of Manila including Calumpit in rice-growing Bulacan province continued to be under waist-high waters after the rains brought by Nalgae, the 17th tropical cyclone to affect the disaster-prone nation in 2011. Helicopters were able to deliver food via air, but could rescue none of those who were on the rooftops since 4 days. Jay Mijares, a spokesman for the nonprofit humanitarian group, World Vision said that "The immediate need is ready-to-eat food and water. Survivors have no means to cook food. We are seeing a mass exodus of people looking for food, there is no supply, and on top of that their livelihood is disrupted. They have money but there's just nothing to buy." According to the disaster council NDRRMC, "Over the course of the weekend, the storm forced the closure of a number of bridges and made a number of roads impassable in the cities of Calasiao and Dagupan on Luzon island." On October 3, Philippine authorities rushed aid to thousands of people marooned in their flooded homes for a week since Nesat and Nalgae together battered the nation. After a long time, the flood water slowly started receding and the rescue workers were able to deliver food and other relief materials to those in need. In Calumpit. one of the worst hit towns, a construction worker in line for receiving the relief materials said to a new agency, "We have no food to eat, and no clean drinking water." It was later reported that atleast 8 million people living in the Philippines have experience faced much worse floods than the earlier destruction caused by typhoon Nesat. The disaster management chief Benito Ramos said "The fight is not over yet. I hope the (Nesat) floods will wash out to Manila Bay before the (Nalgae) runoff hits the area. If the latter catches up to the former, there won’t be any rooftops left to see above the floodwaters." The local weather agency announced that the water levels on the tributaries of major central Luzon rivers were still continuing to rise fast and posed a threat to the nearby towns and villages.
Retirement
Due to extremely high amount of damage that the storm has caused in the Philippines, the PAGASA announced that the name Pedring would be stricken off their tropical cyclone Naming lists. No replacement name has been chosen yet.See also
- 2011 Pacific typhoon season2011 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2011 Pacific typhoon season was the time of the year in which tropical cyclones form in the Western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout 2011 with most tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator...
- Typhoon XangsaneTyphoon XangsaneThe name Xangsane has been used to name two tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The name was contributed by Laos and is a Laotian word for elephant.* 2000's Typhoon Xangsane - affected the Philippines and Taiwan....
- Typhoon Ketsana
- Typhoon Nanmadol (2011)Typhoon Nanmadol (2011)Typhoon Nanmadol was the strongest tropical cyclone in 2011 to hit the Philippines and also the first of the year to directly impact Taiwan. It was the eleventh named storm, the seventh severe tropical storm and the fourth typhoon of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season...
- Tropical Storm Nock-ten (2011)Tropical Storm Nock-ten (2011)Severe Tropical Storm Nock-ten was a powerful tropical storm which made a total of three landfalls in Southeast Asia wreaking havoc, killing more than 100 people and causing damage worth US$126 million...
External links
- The JMA's Best Track Data on Typhoon Nesat (1117)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Graphics) on Typhoon Nesat (1117)
- The JMA's RSMC Best Track Data (Text)
