Tropical Depression 27W - Serious Threat to Southern Philippines - 16 Dec 11

[DevonDiver]

The rapidly developing disturbance (LPA 95W) which was spotted over the Western Marshall Islands has rapidly strengthened into Tropical Depression 27W (UNNAMED)...may pose a serious threat to Southern Philippines (Visayas, Mindanao & Palawan) this weekend. Rainbands expected to reach Western Micronesia on Wednesday & Thursday.

Projected Landfall Area (PLA): Surigao Provinces on Friday Afternoon.

Residents and visitors along Western Micronesia, Palau & Southern Philippines should closely monitor the progress of 27W (UNNAMED).

 

[DonCebu]

Thanks for the update Devon.

What website do you use to track weather ?

I use Typhoon 2000.

 

[DevonDiver]

I get email warnings from Puerto Galera Yacht Club - which then links to a bunch of sites. You can sign up for the email list from that site. They're pretty good at sending out stuff as soon as it is likely to effect the P.I.

PGYC uses Typhoon2000 and the US Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, amongst others.

 

[DonCebu]

Storm Sendong intensifies, 20 areas now under Signal 2


Is now named Tropical Storm Sendong.

Sendong slightly intensified as it approached Davao Oriental in Mindanao.

Sendong was estimated at 180 km east of Hinatuan City in Surigao del Sur, packing maximum winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Sendong was moving west at 26 kph and may bring 10 to 25 mm per hour of rain within its 400-km diameter.

 

[DonCebu]

[h=2]As residents slept, flash floods entered homes, killing 180 in Mindanao
A storm slashing through the southern Philippines has triggered flash floods and landslides that have killed nearly 180 people and forced about 100,000 from their homes, government and army officials say.[/h]
Heartbreaking Casualties of Typhoon Sendong
(Warning: Graphic Content)


Donate $1 for the ILIGAN FLOOD VICTIMS OF TYPHOON SENDONG

 

[DonCebu]

[video=youtube;Xuf5h1tscB4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xuf5h1tscB4[/video]

 

[DevonDiver]

BBC is currently reporting the death toll as at least 640, many more missing.

 

[Jax]

OMG, so glad to hear from you!!!

I sure hope that 640 is an over-estimate!

 

[Jax]

Good Lord, there are 880 not accounted for .

 

[DevonDiver]

640 was confirmed dead (as of yesterday), many of them children. Over 900 still missing. Some villages are still inaccessible, so these figures may increase as rescuers get into the more remote locations.

It seems that a large storm surge, coupled with high tides causes tsunami-like water encroachment across coastal areas - coupled with intensive rainfall leading to flash flooding from the landward side (lots of speculation now about how de-forestation and mining may have led to that unexpected flash flooding).

The Philippines gets a lot of typhoons each year (~20 per annum), so without specific direction/evacuation orders from the government the people did what they normally do, hunker down at home to wait it out. Sadly, in this instance, evacuation should have been organized.