Typhoon Damrey (2005)

Typhoon Damrey, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Labuyo, was a typhoon that hit Vietnam and China in September 2005. The typhoon was the most powerful storm to affect Hainan in over 30 years[1], killing more than 113 people[2].

Typhoon Damrey (Labuyo)
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 2 typhoon (SSHWS)
FormedSeptember 19, 2005
DissipatedSeptember 28, 2005
Highest winds10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph)
1-minute sustained: 90 165 km/h (105 mph)
Lowest pressure955 hPa (mbar); 28.2 inHg
Fatalities180 total
Damage$1.7 billion (USD)
Areas affectedPhilippines, Southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand
Part of the 2005 Pacific typhoon season

Meteorological history
Track of Damrey

Due to its proximity to the Philippines, PAGASA assigned it the name Labuyo and began issuing advisories to the east of the islands on September 19. The Japan Meteorological Agency gave warnings on the same day. On September 20, the storm was classified as a tropical depression 17W by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). On September 21, the JTWC upgraded it to a tropical storm and assigning it the name Damrey (Khmer: ដំរី; lit.: elephant). Damrey strengthened into a typhoon on September 24.

Damrey made landfall at Wanning, in China's Hainan province, at 20:00 UTC on September 25 (04:00 on September 26 local time). It had maximum sustained winds up to 180 km/h. This made Damrey the strongest typhoon to strike Hainan since Typhoon Marge in September 1973. At least 16 people are believed to have died in China[1], and the entire province of Hainan suffered power outages. Damrey went on to impact Vietnam before losing tropical characteristics. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center ceased advisories with the final one at 09:00 UTC September 27 with the system 90 nautical miles (170 km) south-southwest of Hanoi, Vietnam.


Preparations

In the Philippines, officials in Ilocos Norte Province evacuated nearly 20,000 residents from flood-prone regions to schools being used as temporary shelters.[3] In fourteen of the country's provinces, storm signal one, the lowest on a scale of four, was issued by meteorologists.[4]

Impact
Deaths and damage by country
Country Total
deaths		 Damage
(USD)
China 31 $1.5 billion
Laos 55 unknown
Philippines 16 >$21.4 million
Thailand 10 unknown
Vietnam 68 $208.9 million
Totals: 180 ~$1.7 billion

Throughout southeastern Asia, Typhoon Damrey was considered one of the worst typhoons in history. Many places sustained damage not seen in several decades. In Hainan Island, the entire province was without power at one point, a highly unusual event. Additionally, Typhoon Damrey became the strongest storm to make landfall on the island since Typhoon Della in 1974.[5] In Vietnam, Damrey was referred to as the worst typhoon to strike the country in nine years.[6]

Philippines

As a tropical storm, Damrey produced significant rainfall across portions of the Philippines.[7] The highest rainfall total was recorded in Daet, Camarines Norte at 159 mm (6.3 in).[5] Widespread flash flooding triggered by these rains led to substantial agricultural and property damage. In the agricultural department alone, officials estimated that the storm wrought over 1 billion Philippine pesos ($21.4 million USD) in losses. Over 9,000 hectares (22,239 acres) of rice and corn fields were flooded in Isabela Province alone.[3] Throughout the country, 16 people were killed as a result of flooding,[5] several of whom were children from Isabela Province. Landslides along the major roadway between Ilocos Norte and Cagayan provinces were impassable due to landslides and downed trees.[3] Further west, 35 villages were flooded in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay.[4]

China

Vietnam

Throughout Vietnam, up to 68 people were killed as a result of the typhoon. Torrential rains from the storm,[6] amounting up to 144.1 mm (5.67 in) in some areas,[5] inundated 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of farmland and roughly 100,000 homes. Damage from the storm was estimated at nearly 3.3 trillion Vietnamese dong ($208.9 million USD). The most severe damage took place in northern Yen Bai province where 51 people were either killed or missing.[6] Roughly 120 km (75 mi) of dykes built to protect farmland from flooding were destroyed by the typhoon. More than 10,400 homes and schools were destroyed by flood waters, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.[7]

Laos and Thailand

After moving through Vietnam, the former typhoon brought heavy rainfall to parts of Laos which triggered widespread flash flooding. Throughout the country, 55 people were killed as a result of the storm.[7] In northern Thailand, the remnants of Damrey produced widespread flooding that killed ten people and left three others missing. The most severe damage took place in Lampang province where seven people were killed and one other was missing. Nearly 2,000 people were evacuated due to flooding which caused damage to an estimated 32,000 homes. In addition to the thousands of damaged homes, 40 roads, 24 bridges, and a reservoir were also damaged. Elsewhere in Thailand, three people were killed in relation to Damrey.[8]

Aftermath

Shortly after the storm passed by the Philippines, officials quickly began search and rescue operations in the hardest-hit regions. Personnel from the 501st Brigade of the Philippine Coast Guard led the rescue efforts in Ilocos Norte. Food, water, and supplies were being delivered to evacuation centers to care for evacuees and victims.[3] In the wake of the storm, the governor of Aurora Province requested government assistance for residents in central areas of the province. By September 21, the Philippine Navy deployed rescue personnel to the area. Additionally, the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided medical supplies and relief items to the affected areas.[9]

References
  1. "デジタル台風：2005年台風18号（ダムレイ｜DAMREY）". agora.ex.nii.ac.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  2. "Vietnam: Typhoon Damrey - Appeal no. 05EA019 Operations Update No. 2 - Viet Nam". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  3. Sol Jose Vanzi (September 23, 2005). "Floods Leave Thousands Homeless in Ilocos Norte, Cagayan Valley". Philippine Headline News. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  4. Associated Press (September 21, 2005). "Storm kills six people in Philippines (2:20 p.m.)". Sun Star. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  5. Gary Padgett (February 12, 2006). "Monthly Tropical Weather Summary for September 2005". Typhoon 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  6. Xinhua News Agency (October 3, 2005). "68 Vietnamese dead or missing due to typhoon Damrey". China View. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  7. Reuters (September 30, 2005). "Typhoon Damrey toll hits 120, Vietnam suffers most". China Daily. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  8. Agence France-Presse (October 1, 2005). "Typhoon Damrey kills 10 in Thailand". The Times of India. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  9. Sol Jose Vanzi (September 21, 2005). "Defense Chief Alert Cayagan, Isabela On Tropical Depression". Philippine Headline News. Retrieved February 6, 2010.


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