User:Akbermamps/Effects of Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines

The Philippines, mainly northern Luzon, was severely affected by Typhoon Mangkhut during September 2018. Known in the Philippines by the local name Ompong assigned by the PAGASA—the national meteorological service for the country, Mangkhut was the second-deadliest tropical cyclone to affect the Philippines in 2018, the strongest typhoon to affect the country since Typhoon Haiyan, and the costliest for the country in that year's Pacific typhoon season, causing ₱33.9 billion (US$627 million) in damage. Mangkhut officially caused 82 fatalities; however, other sources have reported higher death tolls.

Background
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)—the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the northwestern Pacific Ocean, first recognized Mangkhut as a tropical depression on September 6 at 12:00 UTC. Continuing westward, the system was upgraded to a tropical storm by the next day, being given the name Mangkhut by the JMA. Mangkhut entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on September 12 at 07:00 UTC, being assigned the name Ompong by the PAGASA. Sustaining its intensity, Mangkhut temporarily turned northwest before resuming westward movement as it neared land. Despite undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle, Mangkhut still maintained its strength, and on September 14 at 18:00 UTC, Mangkhut made landfall on Baggao. Following a brief period of weakening over rough terrain, it re-emerged over water, exiting the designated area of responsibility the next day.

Preparations
Due to bad weather, a total of 283 flights were cancelled, with the last flights resuming on September 21. 968 cities or municipalities suspended classes as Mangkhut approached, with cancellations first occurring on September 12 and the final schools reopening on September 26.

On September 12, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) went under alert level red; Chief of the Philippine National Police Oscar Albayalde announced that he would place all police units under full alert by September 13, with Cagayan governor Manuel Mamba ordering the closing of schools and government offices. The mayor of Santa Ana, Cagayan, Darwin Tobias, ordered residents near the coast to evacuate following warnings of high storm surge on September 13, with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation raising its Emergency Operations Center's alert level to red on the same day. As Mangkhut neared landfall, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), UNICEF, and Action Against Hunger mobilized personnel and resources in preparation for the storm's impacts.

Impact
The NDRRMC has estimated that ₱33.9 billion (US$627 million) in damage was incurred and reported that 82 people had died; some sources give higher death tolls. The NDRRMC also reported that 138 people were injured, with two people remaining missing. Over 3.8 million people were affected in total, with the Ilocos Region having the most people affected. 1.5 million people were displaced, with over 300 thousand houses being damaged. 34 thousand schools and 15 million students were impacted. Mangkhut affected the same areas Typhoon Haima did two years prior, further worsening the situation of those impacted during Typhoon Haima.

Northern Luzon
Of the 82 deaths reported by the NDRRMC, all but one occurred in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region. Rappler reported that 120 people died in the Cordillera Administrative Region alone, also reporting that 8 people were missing in the region.

Following sudden heavy rains over the province of Benguet on September 15, a landslide occurred in the town of Itogon, killing 51 people after the landslide buried a concrete bunkhouse previously owned by the Benguet Corporation that was used as an evacuation shelter and other structures under 30 ft of mud. The landslide occurred in an area highly susceptible to landslides; despite this, other warnings, and visits from authorities, residents refused to evacuate. The PAGASA report on the situation described it as "a disaster in the making" and "entirely preventable".

Aparri recorded a gust of 49 m/s, with Tuguegarao recording a minimum pressure of 949 hPa. Baguio recorded 536 mm of rain in 24 hours, also recording a total of 795 mm during Mangkhut's passage.

crops affected

Response
On September 14, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) took out CHF83 thousand (US$86 thousand, ₱4.6 million) from its emergency fund to aid in its preparations in Northern Luzon. 2 days later, the Qatar Red Crescent Society withdrew US$100 thousand (₱5.4 million) from its disaster fund to aid in relief and began a fundraiser for an additional US$1 million (QR3.65 million, ₱5.41 million), with the Australian Government pledging AUD800 thousand (US$572 thousand, ₱30.9 million) worth of supplies. By September 18, the IFRC prepared another CHF400 thousand (US$416 thousand, ₱22.4 million) for aid, launching an emergency appeal for an additional CHF2.7 million (US$2.8 million, ₱150 million) to support the PRC. On the same day, the Government of South Korea planned to give US$300 thousand (₱16.2 million) in aid. On September 20, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation donated €480 thousand (US$560 thousand, ₱30.3 million) to alleviate the effects on affected communities. A few days later, the Hong Kong Red Cross mobilized HK$200 thousand (US$25 thousand, ₱1.4 million) to aid the IFRC and its operations. By October, the World Bank donated US$496 million (₱26.8 billion) to aid in the recovery of affected areas; the Government of Hong Kong pledged to donate US$548 thousand (₱29.6 million) for relief. In late November, Xi Jinping pledged to donate 10 thousand tons of rice to affected localities. The DSWD provided ₱148 million (US$2.74 million) in total for assistance to affected individuals, with ₱11.6 million (US$215 thousand) being provided by other organizations. The European Commission mobilized a €2 million (US$2.33 million) aid package to the typhoon's victims. The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance donated US$275 thousand (₱14.7 million) worth of supplies, including 30 tonnes of rice. Several organizations such as the United Nations Population Fund, Catholic Relief Services, and Oxfam provided aid to impacted areas. As some locations remained flooded, local health units began monitoring the potential for disease outbreaks. Relief operations were stunted in some areas due to the isolation and inaccessibility of the communities.

report ifrc final report hectares affected? report act alliance report wfp sitrep wfp sep wfp nov

Aftermath
Agricultural damages at ₱26.8 billion (US$495 million) came as the Philippines was undergoing rice shortages, heightened food prices, and the highest inflation levels since 2009. Crops were destroyed days before they were planned to be harvested; in areas Mangkhut impacted, half of those in the regions relied on agriculture for their livelihoods. By September 17, the price of rice had already risen by up to 50 percent. Roxas, Isabela experienced a loss of 90 percent of its vegetable crop.

Following the Itogon landslide, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Roy Cimatu ordered the cessation of small-scale mining in the Cordillera Administrative Region on September 17, also revoking small-scale mining permits in Itogon.