Typhoon Ketsana (2009)
Encyclopedia
Typhoon Ketsana was the most devastating typhoon in the 2009 Pacific typhoon season
with a damage of $
1.09 billion and 747 fatalities. The storm was the twenty-seventh tropical storm, eighth typhoon and the second major typhoon in the season. It was the most devastating typhoon to hit Manila
, surpassing the Typhoon Patsy
in 1970
.
Ketsana formed early about 860 km (535 mi) to the northwest of Palau
on September 23, 2009. The depression remained weak and was downgraded to a low pressure area later that day by the Japan Meteorological Agency
and after drifting through extremely favorable conditions, it intensified the next day and was categorized as Tropical Depression by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
and was given the name Ondoy after entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the depression. It was then upgraded to a tropical depression by the JMA later that morning before the JTWC followed suit early on September 25, designating the depression as 17W. Soon, Ketsana was upgraded to a Tropical Storm
before passing over the Philippines
. As it moved into the South China Sea
the storm intensified while moving toward the west, and was categorized as a Severe Tropical Storm by the JMA.
President Gloria Arroyo declared a "state of calamity" encompassing most of Luzon after at least 86 people were initially reported dead in landslides and other incidents. Flood water levels reached a record 20 feet (6.1 m) in rural areas. As of October 24, 2009, at least 464 deaths in the Philippines were officially reported from the typhoon.
(JMA), reported that a seasonal tropical depression had formed about 860 km (535 mi) to the northwest of Palau
. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) then reported later that day that the depression had a developing low-level circulation center
and was in a favorable environment with low vertical wind shear. The JMA then reported that the depression had weakened into an area of low pressure. However, early the next day, as deep convection started to consolidate around the low-level circulation center, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) reported that the low pressure area had become a Tropical Depression and assigned it a local name of Ondoy. Later that morning, the JTWCA issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert
as central convection had continued to organize around a consolidating elongated but exposed low-level circulation center. The JMA then re-upgraded Ondoy to a tropical depression later that morning before the JTWC followed suit early on September 25, designating it as Tropical Depression 17W when it was located about 400 nm east of Manila in the Philippines. At this stage, the system was moving along the southern side of the subtropical ridge and had good poleward outflow into a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough
(TUTT) cell.
Throughout September 25 the intensification of Ondoy was hampered by the system moving into an area of moderate vertical wind shear and by an upper-level trough of pressure that was moving over the system. But later that day the JTWC upgraded it to a Tropical Storm despite its low level circulation center being partially exposed. The JMA followed suit early the next day, assigning the international name of Ketsana and the international designation of 0916 to the storm. PAGASA then reported that Ketsana had made landfall on Northern Luzon near the boundary of the Philippine provinces of Aurora and Quezon
. As a result of making landfall, its low-level circulation center had become fully exposed, but as the storm moved into the South China Sea, it dramatically deepened and expanded while moving west and was upgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm by the JMA early on September 27.
During September 27, Ketsana gradually developed further and was upgraded to a Typhoon by the JTWC and the JMA early the next day, as multiple convective bands were continuing to consolidate more tightly around the low-level circulation center, leading to the formation of a disorganized eye. Typhoon Ketsena then intensified quickly under favorable conditions, reaching peak windspeeds later that day of 165 km/h, (105 mph) (1-min winds) and 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min winds) which made it a Category 2 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. Ketsana then made a second landfall on Quang Nam in Vietnam
, at 0600 UTC on September 29 at its peak intensity. It then rapidly weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm, with the JTWC issuing its last advisory later that day; however, the JMA continued to monitor Ketsana as a Severe Tropical Storm until later that day, when it downgraded it to a Tropical Storm before further downgrading it to a Tropical Depression early the next day when the center of the depression was located over Laos
. The JMA monitored the storm as a weak tropical depression until late on September 30, when it released its final advisory.
placed the provinces of Aurora, northern Quezon
, Camarines Norte
, Camarines Sur
, and Catanduanes
under Public Storm Warning Signal #1 which meant that winds of 30–60 km/h were expected to affect those areas within 36 hours. After the floods struck, some were critical of the government's failure to predict the scale of the disaster or to lessen the damage it caused.
Late on September 27, both the Hong Kong Observatory
and the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
placed Hong Kong
and Macau
under the Standby Signal No.1. The Bureau then considered hoisting the Strong Wind Signal 3
, but decided it was not needed for Hong Kong, while Macau hoisted it early the next day. These warnings were kept in force until later that day when all warnings were lowered. On September 29 it was announced that parts of southern China would be placed under an orange warning with certain regional meteorological bureaus entering a level 3 emergency response.
An estimated 50-80% of the rainfall in 6 hours and 65-95% of the rainfall in 9–12 hours was recorded.
Pre-Post on the right side means any of the two days and is a 24-hour recorded rainfall before or after the highest 24-hour rainfall either on September 25 or September 27, 2009, September 24 or 26 for areas in Bicol Region. The soil can absorb between 40–60 mm in 6 hours without flooding, so many areas were heavily flooded and the provinces of Camarines Norte, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Laguna, and Rizal reported widespread and very heavy flooding with moderate to low flooding occurring in the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite and Quezon. Ondoy's rainfall turned out to be of a flash flood type and was very unanticipated and unprepared for, which led to many deaths and extensive destruction of property.
Note: Only 100mm above Listed
, Catanduanes
, Philippines
with a maintaining speed of 55 km/h at its center. A day later, Ketsana was spotted 360 km southeast of Baler
, Aurora
with maximum winds of 65 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 80 km/h. PAG-ASA
activated public storm signal no. 2 for the provinces of Catanduanes
, Camarines Norte
and Camarines Sur
, and Polillo Island
in Quezon. On September 26, shortly before noon in PST
(around 0400 UTC), Ketsana made landfall on the border of Aurora and Quezon provinces, with maximum winds of 85 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 100 km/h.
At 2:00 PM PST (0600 UTC) that day, Ketsana approached Metro Manila
and caused widespread flooding in the cities of Caloocan, Marikina, Malabon
, Muntinlupa
, Quezon
, Makati
, the Manila
, Pasay
, Pasig
, Antipolo
, Taguig
, Valenzuela
, and San Juan. Flooding also occurred in the nearby provinces of Bulacan
, Rizal
, Laguna, and other Southern Tagalog
areas. Major roads were rendered impassable because of huge flood currents and clogged cars. Air flights were canceled because of heavy rains.
Earlier, power interruptions were reported in Camarines Norte
and minor landslides occurred in Camarines Sur
.
EDSA was closed because of heavy flooding. Defense secretary
and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) chairman Gilberto Teodoro
asked the DOTC to keep MRT
and LRT
lines operational to accommodate stranded passengers.
and the other 25 provinces hit by the typhoon, allowing officials to utilize emergency funds for relief and rescue. Army troops, police, and civilian volunteers were deployed to rescue victims. The Philippine National Red Cross
and Philippine Coast Guard
dispatched teams to rescue stranded and trapped people. At that time, the average height of flooding was from two feet to waist high, and in some areas more than six feet.
Even Malacañang Palace
was opened to those who were in need.
The landslides and severe flooding left at least 246 people dead and 38 others missing. Public and private roads were clogged by vehicles stuck in floodwater. Thousands of motorists and more than 500 passengers were stranded at the North Luzon Expressway
(NLEx). Distress calls and e-mails from thousands of Metro Manila residents and their worried relatives flooded TV and radio stations overnight as most of the power, communication, and water connections were lost. Ketsana also caused flights and operations to be shut down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
for almost a day.
The economic region of Metro Manila
and many adjoining provinces incurred damages to both infrastructure
and agriculture
. As of September 28, 2009, total damages from Ketsana were estimated at $100 million. Internet café
s, entertainment plazas, banks, food stores, building agencies, and stores were soaked with water and mud. Many people were warned of leptospirosis.
Marikina City
, part of Metro Manila, was the most devastated region in the Philippines: almost all of the city's area was submerged in water up to ten feet deep and tons of knee-deep mud. During the typhoon, the Marikina River
broke its banks and transformed streets into rivers. Marikina residential areas, particularly Provident Village, were badly affected by flooding; at least eight people were found dead. Marikina itself recorded 78 deaths, the highest among Metro Manila cities.
At the height of the flooding, around 100,000 liters of bunker oil from the paper manufacturing firm Noah's Paper Mill in Marikina City
spilled. Most of the oil battered the city's barangay
s and a relatively small amount was washed into the basement of the SM City Marikina
shopping mall. The spill later complicated rescue efforts in the city. Over a two-day period starting on September 29, the National Power Corporation Flood Forecasting and Warning System
released 500 cubic meters per second of stored water from the Angat Dam
in Bulacan
. The dam had accumulated 100 cubic meters per second when Ketsana hit the province. Mandaluyong City
also recorded more than 6 feet (1.8 m) of flooding, especially in Gen. Kalentong St., where flooding was more than 10 feet (3 m) deep, badly affecting the local campus of Arellano University. The street recorded the highest flooding outside the Marikina City
area.
In Mindanao
, several towns in Cotabato City
and nearby Sultan Kudarat municipalities were submerged. The closing of the national highway in Bulalo, Cotabato City led to the isolation of connecting towns for several days.
On September 28, PAGASA
issued an 11 AM advisory canceling all public storm signals in the country when Ketsana left the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
at mid-afternoon on September 29 about 37 miles (59.5 km) south of Da Nang
, Quang Nam. The first two victims were killed by falling trees and electric lines. Ketsana's maximum winds were reported at 167 km/h (104 mph) with gusts as strong as 204 km/h (127 mph) as it crossed over the South China Sea
and approached land.
The Vietnamese government evacuated some 170,000 people as floodwater rose high to the country's six central provinces. On the evening of the same day, Ketsana was forecast to be moving toward Laos
then Mukdahan
in Thailand
. Heavy rains and strong winds lashed a 400 km stretch of coastline from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai, with rainfall causing massive flood surges in Huế
, Binh Dinh, and Kon Tum
provinces. Record high water levels were reported in rivers of Quảng Ngãi, Kon Tum, and Gia Lai. Airports, schools, communications, and power lines in the affected area were shut down. Strong winds also destroyed parts of the North-South high voltage powerline, the backbone of Vietnam's electricity grid. The typhoon killed at least 163 people in Vietnam, 23 during the first hours after landfall; 17 people were missing and 616 injured. Total damage of Ketsana is estimate at $785 million.
as one of the most severe storms ever to lash the country, with the worst damage in Kampong Thom Province in central Cambodia. Death tolls reached 43 people. Also more than 66,000 families were forced from their homes by floodwaters.
, and much of the country experienced heavy rain and light flooding. Water was up to knee height in the province of Saravane, and at least 26 people died. The cities of Savannakhet
and Pakse were worst affected since they were directly on the pathway of the typhoon and directly on the Mekong River. In the Si Phan Don
area in Champassak Province, some people took refugee on the roofs of their houses. The floods devastated rice fields and homes. Attapeu was the worst hit province, with nearly 90% of the province affected.
as a tropical depression early on September 30. As the weakening cyclone moved through the country, widespread heavy rainfall and flash flooding were reported in 40 provinces. The heavy rainfall also helped to fill up natural reservoirs within the country. The depression partially damaged 4680 houses and destroyed 44, as well as 820,000 acres (330 000 hectares) of agricultural land. Ketsana also injured one person and killed two before moving out of the country as an area of low pressure and dissipating on October 3 over the Andaman Sea
. Total damages were estimated at just over $20,000,000. Three dams in Chai-ya-poom were damaged by the heavy rainfall, while in Pattaya
nine boats were sunk waves reported to be over two metres high.
(PAGASA) documented a record-high amount of rainfall in 24 hours at 455 millimetres (17.9 in). They also reported that Ketsana's rainfall was recorded from 8am PST/ 0000 (UTC) of Saturday (September 26) to 8am PST/ 0000 (UTC) of Sunday (September 27). The amount of rainfall recorded for six hours, which was 341.3 millimetres (13.4 in), was comparable to the 24-hour rainfall in 1967. The damage to property was estimated to be P
6 billion, including P4.1 billion in damage to infrastructure, P1.9 billion in damage to schools, and P882.525 million in damage to agriculture.
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
of the Philippines Department of Agriculture
, an estimated 126,721 hectares of rice-farming land were destroyed, which would affect almost 3% of the country's annual expected rice production. Added to this, Ketsana devastated some 1,374 hectares of corn plantations.
Some 48 hours after Ketsana struck Metro Manila, the Philippine government appealed to the international community and the United Nations
for help. Various United Nations agencies, the United States
, the People's Republic of China
, and Japan
provided emergency assistance to the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. The United States donated $50,000, while China and Japan gave $10,000 and $20,000 respectively. Australia
provided A$
1 million and Thailand
also provided humanitarian services. Germany
donated €500,000 as well the Republic of China
(Taiwan) donated $50,000. The United States also deployed Marines
to help rescue victims in the Cainta
and Pasig
areas, as well as for search and retrieval operations for dead bodies. Special Forces Operators
and other U.S. service members attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines also assisted in aid efforts. An additional 3,000 U.S. troops were expected to arrive to assist in relief efforts. U.S. Nonprofit international disaster relief organization AmeriCares
shipped $3.2 million worth of medical aid for Ketsana survivors. An Israel
i search and rescue party, and doctors, nurses, and paramedics were sent to the Philippines.
In the Philippines, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) headed the rescue and relief operations for the citizens affected by Ketsana's flooding. There was also a counterpart private-sector effort among companies and NGOs to provide and coordinate relief activities in various areas.
The Philippine Army
deployed about 1,000 soldiers in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces to help in operations. The Philippine National Red Cross and the Philippine Coast Guard also deployed teams in rubber boats to rescue people stranded in their homes. On the Internet, citizens turned to various social networks like Twitter
, Facebook
, Plurk
, and Multiply to share news updates and forward cries for help from people trapped in the floods. Google Maps
was used to pinpoint locations of stranded people while various blogs and websites shared information on how to donate money and in-kind goods. Donations arrived from all over the world and were sorely needed.
After Typhoon Ketsana and Typhoon Parma
, the government of Japan
has given the Philippines a P1.7-billion (3.350 billion yen) grant to improve the country's weather monitoring and information dissemination system.
. The Chinese Navy allegedly fired on Vietnamese fishing boats when they tried to take shelter at Tru Cau island to escape Typhoon Ketsana and after being allowed to stay on the island for several days, they were robbed and beaten by Chinese forces before leaving. Vietnam and China have an agreement that fishermen from either country can ride out storms in the other's territory.
Nguyen Viet Thang, chairman of the Vietnam Fishery Association, said his organization was preparing an official protest to China over the incidents. Colonel Bui Phu Phu, vice chief of the border guard forces of the fishermen's home province of Quảng Ngãi
, confirmed the accusations and said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should send a protest to China.
An official at the Chinese embassy in Hanoi said China had no comment on the accusations.
The committee selected the name "Champi" to replace "Ketsana" on the Western Pacific basin name lists beginning in 2011.
Benigno Aquino III
took office in June 2010, PAGASA Chief Administrator Prisco Nilo
was fired and removed from his post on August 6, Nilo, previously however that the agency accused of having a fool-proof forecast of Ketsana as the typhoon struck over Metro Manila
. He also adds lack of disaster preparedness and installation of Doppler weather radar
and other equipment, and slow voluntary response that the agency unmodernized. Nilo left PAGASA since his sad resignation after Graciano Yumul, Jr., took Nilo's vacant seat. This similar accusation also happened on the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang
in July 2010. Nilo was in Australia
for his new post as weather forecaster of the Australian Weather Bureau.
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. The storm was the twenty-seventh tropical storm, eighth typhoon and the second major typhoon in the season. It was the most devastating typhoon to hit 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...
, surpassing the Typhoon Patsy
Typhoon Patsy (1970)
Super Typhoon Patsy was the twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth typhoon, and seventh super typhoon of the 1970 Pacific typhoon season....
in 1970
1970 Pacific typhoon season
The 1970 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1970, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December...
.
Ketsana formed early about 860 km (535 mi) to the northwest of Palau
Palau
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...
on September 23, 2009. The depression remained weak and was downgraded to a low pressure area later that day 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...
and after drifting through extremely favorable conditions, it intensified the next day and was categorized as Tropical Depression by 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...
and was given the name Ondoy after entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility. 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...
issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the depression. It was then upgraded to a tropical depression by the JMA later that morning before the JTWC followed suit early on September 25, designating the depression as 17W. Soon, Ketsana was upgraded to a Tropical Storm
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...
before passing over 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 it moved into the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
the storm intensified while moving toward the west, and was categorized as a Severe Tropical Storm by the JMA.
President Gloria Arroyo declared a "state of calamity" encompassing most of Luzon after at least 86 people were initially reported dead in landslides and other incidents. Flood water levels reached a record 20 feet (6.1 m) in rural areas. As of October 24, 2009, at least 464 deaths in the Philippines were officially reported from the typhoon.
Meteorological history
On September 23, 2009, the Japan Meteorological AgencyJapan 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), reported that a seasonal tropical depression had formed about 860 km (535 mi) to the northwest of Palau
Palau
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 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) then reported later that day that the depression had a developing low-level circulation center
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...
and was in a favorable environment with low vertical wind shear. The JMA then reported that the depression had weakened into an area of low pressure. However, early the next day, as deep convection started to consolidate around the low-level circulation center, 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...
(PAGASA) reported that the low pressure area had become a Tropical Depression and assigned it a local name of Ondoy. Later that morning, the JTWCA 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 central convection had continued to organize around a consolidating elongated but exposed low-level circulation center. The JMA then re-upgraded Ondoy to a tropical depression later that morning before the JTWC followed suit early on September 25, designating it as Tropical Depression 17W when it was located about 400 nm east of Manila in the Philippines. At this stage, the system was moving along the southern side of the subtropical ridge and had good poleward outflow into a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough
Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough
A tropical upper tropospheric trough , also known as the mid-oceanic trough, is a trough situated in upper-level tropics. Its formation is usually caused by the intrusion of energy and wind from the mid-latitudes into the tropics. It can also develop from the inverted trough adjacent to an upper...
(TUTT) cell.
Throughout September 25 the intensification of Ondoy was hampered by the system moving into an area of moderate vertical wind shear and by an upper-level trough of pressure that was moving over the system. But later that day the JTWC upgraded it to a Tropical Storm despite its low level circulation center being partially exposed. The JMA followed suit early the next day, assigning the international name of Ketsana and the international designation of 0916 to the storm. PAGASA then reported that Ketsana had made landfall on Northern Luzon near the boundary of the Philippine provinces of Aurora and Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
. As a result of making landfall, its low-level circulation center had become fully exposed, but as the storm moved into the South China Sea, it dramatically deepened and expanded while moving west and was upgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm by the JMA early on September 27.
During September 27, Ketsana gradually developed further and was upgraded to a Typhoon by the JTWC and the JMA early the next day, as multiple convective bands were continuing to consolidate more tightly around the low-level circulation center, leading to the formation of a disorganized eye. Typhoon Ketsena then intensified quickly under favorable conditions, reaching peak windspeeds later that day of 165 km/h, (105 mph) (1-min winds) and 140 km/h (85 mph) (10-min winds) which made it a Category 2 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. Ketsana then made a second landfall on Quang Nam in 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 –...
, at 0600 UTC on September 29 at its peak intensity. It then rapidly weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm, with the JTWC issuing its last advisory later that day; however, the JMA continued to monitor Ketsana as a Severe Tropical Storm until later that day, when it downgraded it to a Tropical Storm before further downgrading it to a Tropical Depression early the next day when the center of the depression was located over Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. The JMA monitored the storm as a weak tropical depression until late on September 30, when it released its final advisory.
Philippines
On September 24, PAGASAPhilippine 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...
placed the provinces of Aurora, northern Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
, Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet and the province borders Quezon to the west and Camarines Sur to the south.-Demographics:...
, Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south...
, and Catanduanes
Catanduanes
Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757 people.-Etymology:"Isla de Cobos" was Catanduanes' first...
under Public Storm Warning Signal #1 which meant that winds of 30–60 km/h were expected to affect those areas within 36 hours. After the floods struck, some were critical of the government's failure to predict the scale of the disaster or to lessen the damage it caused.
China
Late on September 27, both 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...
and the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau is a department of the Macao Government. The services provides forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards...
placed 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...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
under the Standby Signal No.1. The Bureau then considered hoisting the Strong Wind Signal 3
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...
, but decided it was not needed for Hong Kong, while Macau hoisted it early the next day. These warnings were kept in force until later that day when all warnings were lowered. On September 29 it was announced that parts of southern China would be placed under an orange warning with certain regional meteorological bureaus entering a level 3 emergency response.
Vietnam
On September 27, the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting issued a public storm warning signal named "Number 9." The government instructed residents to secure their homes with fortified hard wood and sandbag roofs. Also, authorities mobilized several thousand military personnel and police to help residents evacuate from the typhoon's path. Fishing vessels were called to return to their ports.Philippines
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| CAR Cordillera Administrative Region The Cordillera Administrative Region is a region in the Philippines composed of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, as well as Baguio City, the regional center. The Cordillera Administrative Region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera... |
4 | ||||||||||
| Region III 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... |
56 | ||||||||||
| NCR | 241 | ||||||||||
| Region IV-A CALABARZON CALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional center is Calamba City in Laguna... |
160 | ||||||||||
| ARMM | 3 | ||||||||||
| Total | 464 | ||||||||||
| Damages | |||||||||||
| Amount | |||||||||||
| Agriculture | ₱ Philippine peso The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used... 6,766,046,143.00 ($143,805,444.06) |
||||||||||
| Infrastructure | ₱ Philippine peso The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used... 4,391,462,577.60 ($93,336,080.29) |
||||||||||
| Total damagesTotal damages figure includes agriculture, infrastructure, casualties, etc. damages. | ₱ Philippine peso The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used... 11,157,508,720.60 ($237,141,524.35) |
||||||||||
Meteorological Observations
Note:The soil can absorb between 100–150 mm with 200 mm Maximum so more than 180 mm of rain means heavy flooding.An estimated 50-80% of the rainfall in 6 hours and 65-95% of the rainfall in 9–12 hours was recorded.
Pre-Post on the right side means any of the two days and is a 24-hour recorded rainfall before or after the highest 24-hour rainfall either on September 25 or September 27, 2009, September 24 or 26 for areas in Bicol Region. The soil can absorb between 40–60 mm in 6 hours without flooding, so many areas were heavily flooded and the provinces of Camarines Norte, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Laguna, and Rizal reported widespread and very heavy flooding with moderate to low flooding occurring in the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite and Quezon. Ondoy's rainfall turned out to be of a flash flood type and was very unanticipated and unprepared for, which led to many deaths and extensive destruction of property.
| Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsena) Rainfall Distribution over Philippines | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement station |
Precipitation | Date | Pre-Post(mm) | |
| (mm) | (in) | |||
| PAGASA Science Garden,Quezon City,NCR | 454.9 mm | 17.91 inches | September 26, 2009 | 94.0 mm |
| Tanay,Rizal,CALABARZON | 331.7 mm | 13.06 inches | September 26, 2009 | 141.5 mm |
| Manila,Metro Manila,NCR | 258.6 mm | 10.18 inches | September 26, 2009 | 41.4 mm |
| Ambulong,Batangas/Laguna,CALABARZON | 234.4 mm | 9.23 inches | September 26, 2009 | 49.5 mm |
| Bagasbas,Daet,Camarines Norte,Bicol | 204.5 mm | 8.05 inches | September 25, 2009 | 5.8 mm |
| Infanta,Quezon,CALABARZON | 176.2 mm | 6.94 inches | September 26, 2009 | 98.6 mm |
| (PSW),Barrio Barretto,Zambales,Central Luzon | 159.3 mm | 6.27 inches | September 26, 2009 | 75.2 mm |
| Subic,W.S.,Zambales,Central Luzon | 127.8 mm | 5.03 inches | September 26, 2009 | 50.3 mm |
| Clark AFB,Angeles City,Pampanga,Central Luzon | 109.0 mm | 4.29 inches | September 26, 2009 | 25.4 mm |
| Iba,Zambales,Central Luzon | 103.9 mm | 4.09 inches | September 26, 2009 | 39.9 mm |
Note: Only 100mm above Listed
Landfall
On September 24, 2009, Ketsana was estimated to be 330 km northeast of ViracVirac, Catanduanes
Virac is a 1st class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of the province and the third largest town with a land area of 188 km2...
, Catanduanes
Catanduanes
Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757 people.-Etymology:"Isla de Cobos" was Catanduanes' first...
, 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...
with a maintaining speed of 55 km/h at its center. A day later, Ketsana was spotted 360 km southeast of Baler
Baler, Aurora
Baler is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines. It is the provincial capital of Aurora. According to the latest census, it has a population of 34,492 people and 5.955 members per household....
, 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...
with maximum winds of 65 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 80 km/h. PAG-ASA
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...
activated public storm signal no. 2 for the provinces of Catanduanes
Catanduanes
Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757 people.-Etymology:"Isla de Cobos" was Catanduanes' first...
, Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet and the province borders Quezon to the west and Camarines Sur to the south.-Demographics:...
and Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south...
, and Polillo Island
Polillo Island
Polillo is an island in the Northeastern region of the Philippine archipelago. It is separated from the island of Luzon by the Polillo Strait.The island itself is subdivided across three municipalities. The municipality of Polillo takes up the Southern part of the island...
in Quezon. On September 26, shortly before noon in PST
Philippine Standard Time
Philippine Standard Time , also known as Philippine Time , is the official name for the time in the Philippines. The country only has one time zone, the UTC+08:00 time zone. The country used the daylight saving time for a short time...
(around 0400 UTC), Ketsana made landfall on the border of Aurora and Quezon provinces, with maximum winds of 85 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 100 km/h.
At 2:00 PM PST (0600 UTC) that day, Ketsana approached 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 caused widespread flooding in the cities of Caloocan, Marikina, Malabon
Malabon City
The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of Manila, the city has a population of 363,681 as of 2007. It is primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis...
, Muntinlupa
Muntinlupa City
The City of Muntinlupa is the southernmost city in Philippine National Capital Region. It is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Parañaque City; by Las Piñas City to the west; to the southwest by the city of Bacoor, Cavite; by the city of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de...
, Quezon
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Makati
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
, the 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,...
, Pasay
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, Pasig
Pasig City
The City of Pasig is one of the city municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region...
, Antipolo
Antipolo City
Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the largest city in the Calabarzon Region in terms of population...
, Taguig
Taguig City
Taguig is a city in Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center...
, Valenzuela
Valenzuela City
Valenzuela ,In rare occasion it is pronunced as , with a glottal stop after /ɐ/ in Filipino/Tagalog languages. officially known as the City of Valenzuela is a highly urbanized, first-class city and one of cities in the Philippines that constitutes Metro Manila...
, and San Juan. Flooding also occurred in the nearby provinces 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...
, Rizal
Rizal
Rizal is a province located in the CALABARZON , just 16 kilometers east of Manila. The province was named after the country's national hero, José Rizal. Rizal Governor Casimiro A. Ynares III on June 17, 2008 announced the transfer of the Capitol from Pasig. Its P 270-million capitol building,...
, Laguna, and other Southern Tagalog
CALABARZON
CALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional center is Calamba City in Laguna...
areas. Major roads were rendered impassable because of huge flood currents and clogged cars. Air flights were canceled because of heavy rains.
Earlier, power interruptions were reported in Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet and the province borders Quezon to the west and Camarines Sur to the south.-Demographics:...
and minor landslides occurred in Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south...
.
EDSA was closed because of heavy flooding. Defense secretary
Department of National Defense (Philippines)
The Department of National Defense is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country...
and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) chairman Gilberto Teodoro
Gilberto Teodoro
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr. , or more commonly known as Gilbert/Gibo, is the former secretary of the national defense of the republic of the Philippines, having assumed the post in August 2007 until November 15, 2009...
asked the DOTC to keep MRT
Manila Metro Rail Transit System
The Metro Rail Transit is Metro Manila's third rapid transit line. It forms part of the Strong Republic Transit System, which includes the Manila Light Rail Transit System. The line operates under the name Metrostar Express and is colored blue on rail maps.The line is located along the Epifanio de...
and LRT
Manila Light Rail Transit System
The Manila Light Rail Transit System, popularly known as the LRT, is a metropolitan rail system serving the Metro Manila area in the Philippines. Although referred to as a light rail system because it originally used light rail vehicles, it has many characteristics of a rapid transit system, such...
lines operational to accommodate stranded passengers.
State of calamity
On the afternoon of September 26, Teodoro declared an over-all state of calamity in Metro ManilaMetro 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 the other 25 provinces hit by the typhoon, allowing officials to utilize emergency funds for relief and rescue. Army troops, police, and civilian volunteers were deployed to rescue victims. 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...
and 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....
dispatched teams to rescue stranded and trapped people. At that time, the average height of flooding was from two feet to waist high, and in some areas more than six feet.
Even 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...
was opened to those who were in need.
The landslides and severe flooding left at least 246 people dead and 38 others missing. Public and private roads were clogged by vehicles stuck in floodwater. Thousands of motorists and more than 500 passengers were stranded at the North Luzon Expressway
North Luzon Expressway
The North Luzon Expressway , and which is formerly called the North Diversion Road, and officially known as Radial Road 8 is a 4 to 8-lane limited-access toll expressway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon region in the Philippines...
(NLEx). Distress calls and e-mails from thousands of Metro Manila residents and their worried relatives flooded TV and radio stations overnight as most of the power, communication, and water connections were lost. Ketsana also caused flights and operations to be shut down at 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...
for almost a day.
The economic region 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...
and many adjoining provinces incurred damages to both infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. As of September 28, 2009, total damages from Ketsana were estimated at $100 million. Internet café
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
s, entertainment plazas, banks, food stores, building agencies, and stores were soaked with water and mud. Many people were warned of leptospirosis.
Marikina City
Marikina City
Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of...
, part of Metro Manila, was the most devastated region in the Philippines: almost all of the city's area was submerged in water up to ten feet deep and tons of knee-deep mud. During the typhoon, the Marikina River
Marikina River
The San Mateo - Marikina River is a main river system in Eastern Metro Manila, Philippines. A river stretching from Rodriguez, Rizal, to Pasig City that connects to Pasig River as major tributary near Napindan Area in Pasig City.San Mateo - Marikina River used to be an important transport route...
broke its banks and transformed streets into rivers. Marikina residential areas, particularly Provident Village, were badly affected by flooding; at least eight people were found dead. Marikina itself recorded 78 deaths, the highest among Metro Manila cities.
At the height of the flooding, around 100,000 liters of bunker oil from the paper manufacturing firm Noah's Paper Mill in Marikina City
Marikina City
Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of...
spilled. Most of the oil battered the city's barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s and a relatively small amount was washed into the basement of the SM City Marikina
SM City Marikina
SM City Marikina is a shopping mall owned and managed by SM Prime Holdings, and is located in Calumpang, Marikina, Philippines. SM Supermalls is owned by Henry Sy, Sr.. SM City Marikina is the first shopping mall that has a wi-fi connection. The mall was designed by dsgn associates, a firm based in...
shopping mall. The spill later complicated rescue efforts in the city. Over a two-day period starting on September 29, the National Power Corporation Flood Forecasting and Warning System
National Power Corporation
The National Power Corporation , also known as the NPC or Napocor, is a state-owned company that serves as the largest provider and generator of electricity in the Philippines...
released 500 cubic meters per second of stored water from the Angat Dam
Angat Dam
Angat Dam is a concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam that supplies the Manila metropolitan area water. It was a part of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system...
in 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...
. The dam had accumulated 100 cubic meters per second when Ketsana hit the province. Mandaluyong City
Mandaluyong City
The City of Mandaluyong is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the west by the country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan City, to the east by Quezon City and Pasig City, and by Makati City to the south...
also recorded more than 6 feet (1.8 m) of flooding, especially in Gen. Kalentong St., where flooding was more than 10 feet (3 m) deep, badly affecting the local campus of Arellano University. The street recorded the highest flooding outside the Marikina City
Marikina City
Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of...
area.
In Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, several towns in Cotabato City
Cotabato City
The City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
and nearby Sultan Kudarat municipalities were submerged. The closing of the national highway in Bulalo, Cotabato City led to the isolation of connecting towns for several days.
On September 28, 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...
issued an 11 AM advisory canceling all public storm signals in the country when Ketsana left the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Vietnam
Ketsana made its landfall in VietnamVietnam
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 –...
at mid-afternoon on September 29 about 37 miles (59.5 km) south of Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, Quang Nam. The first two victims were killed by falling trees and electric lines. Ketsana's maximum winds were reported at 167 km/h (104 mph) with gusts as strong as 204 km/h (127 mph) as it crossed over the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
and approached land.
The Vietnamese government evacuated some 170,000 people as floodwater rose high to the country's six central provinces. On the evening of the same day, Ketsana was forecast to be moving toward Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
then Mukdahan
Mukdahan
Mukdahan capital of Mukdahan province, became Thailand's 73d province in 1982. Located in the northeastern region of the country, on the banks of the river Mekong, it was formerly as district of Nakhon Phanom Province...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Heavy rains and strong winds lashed a 400 km stretch of coastline from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai, with rainfall causing massive flood surges in Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, Binh Dinh, and Kon Tum
Kon Tum Province
Kon Tum province lies in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam and shares borders with Laos and Cambodia. It has an area of 9,934 square km and a population of approximately 330,000. The economy is primarily agricultural.-Name:...
provinces. Record high water levels were reported in rivers of Quảng Ngãi, Kon Tum, and Gia Lai. Airports, schools, communications, and power lines in the affected area were shut down. Strong winds also destroyed parts of the North-South high voltage powerline, the backbone of Vietnam's electricity grid. The typhoon killed at least 163 people in Vietnam, 23 during the first hours after landfall; 17 people were missing and 616 injured. Total damage of Ketsana is estimate at $785 million.
Cambodia
The weakening typhoon struck northeastern CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
as one of the most severe storms ever to lash the country, with the worst damage in Kampong Thom Province in central Cambodia. Death tolls reached 43 people. Also more than 66,000 families were forced from their homes by floodwaters.
Laos
There was major flooding in the southern and central provinces of LaosLaos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, and much of the country experienced heavy rain and light flooding. Water was up to knee height in the province of Saravane, and at least 26 people died. The cities of Savannakhet
Savannakhet
Savannakhet or Kaysone Phomvihane is a city in western Laos and the capital of the Savannakhet Province, previously known as Khanthabouli . This is the second-largest city in Laos, after Vientiane. The city is birthtown of Kaysone Phomvihane, former president of Laos, and was named after him in...
and Pakse were worst affected since they were directly on the pathway of the typhoon and directly on the Mekong River. In the Si Phan Don
Si Phan Don
The Si Phan Don is a riverine archipelago located in the Mekong River, Champasak Province in southern Laos. Si Phan Don is characterised by numerous islands, half of which are submerged when the Mekong River is in flood...
area in Champassak Province, some people took refugee on the roofs of their houses. The floods devastated rice fields and homes. Attapeu was the worst hit province, with nearly 90% of the province affected.
Thailand
Ketsana moved into ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
as a tropical depression early on September 30. As the weakening cyclone moved through the country, widespread heavy rainfall and flash flooding were reported in 40 provinces. The heavy rainfall also helped to fill up natural reservoirs within the country. The depression partially damaged 4680 houses and destroyed 44, as well as 820,000 acres (330 000 hectares) of agricultural land. Ketsana also injured one person and killed two before moving out of the country as an area of low pressure and dissipating on October 3 over the Andaman Sea
Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
. Total damages were estimated at just over $20,000,000. Three dams in Chai-ya-poom were damaged by the heavy rainfall, while in Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
nine boats were sunk waves reported to be over two metres high.
Aftermath
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services AdministrationPhilippine 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...
(PAGASA) documented a record-high amount of rainfall in 24 hours at 455 millimetres (17.9 in). They also reported that Ketsana's rainfall was recorded from 8am PST/ 0000 (UTC) of Saturday (September 26) to 8am PST/ 0000 (UTC) of Sunday (September 27). The amount of rainfall recorded for six hours, which was 341.3 millimetres (13.4 in), was comparable to the 24-hour rainfall in 1967. The damage to property was estimated to be P
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
6 billion, including P4.1 billion in damage to infrastructure, P1.9 billion in damage to schools, and P882.525 million in damage to agriculture.
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (Philippines)
The Philippines' Bureau of Agricultural Statistics , abbreviated as BAS, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Agriculture responsible for being the central information source and server of the National Information Network of the Department of Agriculture; and providing...
of the Philippines Department of Agriculture
Department of Agriculture (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture , abbreviated as DA, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for boosting the income of farmers as well as reducing the incidence of poverty in the rural sector, as stipulated inthe Government's Medium Term Philippine...
, an estimated 126,721 hectares of rice-farming land were destroyed, which would affect almost 3% of the country's annual expected rice production. Added to this, Ketsana devastated some 1,374 hectares of corn plantations.
Some 48 hours after Ketsana struck Metro Manila, the Philippine government appealed to the international community and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for help. Various United Nations agencies, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
provided emergency assistance to the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. The United States donated $50,000, while China and Japan gave $10,000 and $20,000 respectively. Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
provided A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
1 million and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
also provided humanitarian services. Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
donated €500,000 as well the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) donated $50,000. The United States also deployed Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
to help rescue victims in the Cainta
Cainta, Rizal
The Municipality of Cainta is a first-class urban municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It is one of the oldest , and is the town with the second smallest land area of 26.81 km² next to Angono with 26.22 km².Cainta serves as the secondary gateway to the rest of Rizal...
and Pasig
Pasig City
The City of Pasig is one of the city municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region...
areas, as well as for search and retrieval operations for dead bodies. Special Forces Operators
United States Naval Special Warfare Command
The United States Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned on April 16, 1987, at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California...
and other U.S. service members attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines also assisted in aid efforts. An additional 3,000 U.S. troops were expected to arrive to assist in relief efforts. U.S. Nonprofit international disaster relief organization AmeriCares
AmeriCares
AmeriCares is a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people in the United States and around the world. Since its founding in 1982, AmeriCares has provided more than...
shipped $3.2 million worth of medical aid for Ketsana survivors. An Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i search and rescue party, and doctors, nurses, and paramedics were sent to the Philippines.
In the Philippines, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) headed the rescue and relief operations for the citizens affected by Ketsana's flooding. There was also a counterpart private-sector effort among companies and NGOs to provide and coordinate relief activities in various areas.
The Philippine Army
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Tagalog is Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas. On July 23, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Maj. Gen...
deployed about 1,000 soldiers in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces to help in operations. The Philippine National Red Cross and the Philippine Coast Guard also deployed teams in rubber boats to rescue people stranded in their homes. On the Internet, citizens turned to various social networks like Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, Plurk
Plurk
Plurk is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send updates through short messages or links, which can be up to 140 text characters in length....
, and Multiply to share news updates and forward cries for help from people trapped in the floods. Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
was used to pinpoint locations of stranded people while various blogs and websites shared information on how to donate money and in-kind goods. Donations arrived from all over the world and were sorely needed.
After Typhoon Ketsana and Typhoon Parma
Typhoon Parma
Typhoon Parma was the second typhoon to affect the Philippines within the span of a week during September 2009....
, the government of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
has given the Philippines a P1.7-billion (3.350 billion yen) grant to improve the country's weather monitoring and information dissemination system.
International Aid to the Philippines
:A$11,000,000:C$5,100,000, aid packages, water purification systems-
- Canadian federal government: C$5,000,000, priority in visa applications for both temporary and permanent residence
- Province of ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
: C$100,000:$140,000:$20,000:€2,000,000:€500,000:Medical Teams:20 tonnes of food aid.:NZ$25,000:$20,000 and 3,200 water purification sets:Aid workers:$50,000:Humanitarian Services:$3,250,000 - US government:$50,000
- US military:USS Tortuga (LSD-46)USS Tortuga (LSD-46)USS Tortuga is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship to be named for the Dry Tortugas, a group of desert coral islets west of Key West, Florida....
and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)USS Harpers Ferry is the lead ship of her class of landing ship dock of the United States Navy. This warship was named for the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which, because of the Federal arsenal there, was an important location during the Civil War. , Harpers Ferry is commanded by...
, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force plus 20 USMC personnel, a helicopter and four Zodiac inflatable boats. - AmeriCares:$3.2 million
Paracel Islands incident
Vietnamese officials and media reported that Chinese naval forces mistreated Vietnamese fishermen who tried to take shelter from the typhoon in the disputed Paracel IslandsParacel Islands
The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands...
. The Chinese Navy allegedly fired on Vietnamese fishing boats when they tried to take shelter at Tru Cau island to escape Typhoon Ketsana and after being allowed to stay on the island for several days, they were robbed and beaten by Chinese forces before leaving. Vietnam and China have an agreement that fishermen from either country can ride out storms in the other's territory.
Nguyen Viet Thang, chairman of the Vietnam Fishery Association, said his organization was preparing an official protest to China over the incidents. Colonel Bui Phu Phu, vice chief of the border guard forces of the fishermen's home province of Quảng Ngãi
Quang Ngai Province
Quảng Ngãi is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, on the coast of South China Sea. It is located 883 km south of Hanoi and 838 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.-History:...
, confirmed the accusations and said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should send a protest to China.
An official at the Chinese embassy in Hanoi said China had no comment on the accusations.
Retirement
Due to the damage and deaths caused by the storm, the names "Ketsana" and "Ondoy" were later retired.The committee selected the name "Champi" to replace "Ketsana" on the Western Pacific basin name lists beginning in 2011.
Removal of Prisco Nilo
When PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
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....
took office in June 2010, PAGASA Chief Administrator Prisco Nilo
Prisco Nilo
Prisco Duarte Nilo is a Filipino meteorologist. He is the former administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration ....
was fired and removed from his post on August 6, Nilo, previously however that the agency accused of having a fool-proof forecast of Ketsana as the typhoon struck over 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...
. He also adds lack of disaster preparedness and installation of Doppler weather radar
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
and other equipment, and slow voluntary response that the agency unmodernized. Nilo left PAGASA since his sad resignation after Graciano Yumul, Jr., took Nilo's vacant seat. This similar accusation also happened on the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang
Typhoon Conson (2010)
Typhoon Conson was the second tropical cyclone during the 2010 Pacific typhoon season to impact the Philippines. Developing out of a tropical disturbance east of the Philippines on July 11, 2010, Conson quickly developed as it tracked nearly due west...
in July 2010. Nilo was in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for his new post as weather forecaster of the Australian Weather Bureau.
See also
- Typhoon Angela (1995)Typhoon Angela (1995)Super Typhoon Angela was a very powerful Category 5 typhoon with sustained winds.Angela caused 9.33 billion Philippine pesos in damage across the Philippines, resulting in 882 fatalities...
- 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....
- 2009 Pacific typhoon season2009 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 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...
- Timeline of the 2009 Pacific typhoon seasonTimeline of the 2009 Pacific typhoon seasonThis timeline documents all of the events of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season which was the period that tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean during 2009, with most of the tropical cyclones forming between May and November. The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean,...
- Typhoons in the PhilippinesTyphoons in the PhilippinesTyphoons in the Philippines refer in general to tropical cyclones that enter the Philippine area of responsibility and affect the Philippines. Locally they are called bagyo...
- Effects of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season in the PhilippinesEffects of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season in the PhilippinesThe effects of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season in the Philippines were considered some of the worst in decades. Throughout the year, series of typhoons impacted the country, with the worst damage occurring during September and October from Typhoons Ketsana and Parma.-Seasonal...
External links
- Japan Meteorological Agency
- China Meteorological Agency
- Hong Kong Observatory
- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
- Taiwan Central Weather Bureau
- Thai Meteorological Department
- Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center