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Catastrophe Report 9
February 24th – July 25th 2006
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Tropical Storm Bilis - Philippines, Taiwan, China
| Territory: |
|
Philippines, Taiwan, China |
| Region: |
|
Respectively, Luzon, northern Taiwan
and SE China |
| Date: |
|
8 – 15 July 2006 |
| Event: |
|
Tropical Storm Bilis (Typhoon Florita) |
| Impact: |
|
While maximum wind speeds barely reached the
level of a category 1 tropical cyclone, the particularly heavy
rains associated with Tropical Storm Bilis resulted in considerable
damage and loss of life, and qualified Bilis as the most damaging
storm – so far – of 2006. Although Bilis did not
make landfall in the Philippines, the country was affected by
the strongest winds and heaviest precipitation as the storm
passed to the north. The outer rain bands brought torrential
rain to central Luzon, including the capital Manila, killing
nine in flash floods and landslides. Four people were killed
in Taiwan, although damage here was relatively light due to
less in the way of sustained heavy rainfall. China bore the
brunt of the storm, with latest estimates (July 24th) putting
the death toll at 612, with more than 200 missing, and over
three million displaced. Serious flooding affected the provinces
of Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Zhejiang, and floods
and wind caused travel disruption in the city of Shanghai. The
province of Hunan was worst affected, with massive flooding
and landslides destroying an estimated 31,000 homes and claiming
more than 400 lives. Rainfall measurements in China indicated
hourly precipitation rates of up to 11 cm, and this –
combined with the persistence of Bilis is blamed for the severe
flooding in the south-east of the country. Total economic losses
are currently (end July) estimated at US$1.98 billion, but can
be expected to rise. Insured loss data are not currently available. |
| Summary: |
|
Tropical Storm Bilis began life on July 7th,
as a tropical disturbance south of Guam in the western Pacific.
By the following day, the disturbance had organised itself into
a tropical depression, and by the 9th achieved tropical storm
status. Bilis headed north-westward towards Taiwan and was classified
as a severe tropical storm on July 11th. Two days later, Bilis
reached peak intensity, with wind speeds reaching 110 km an
hour, before making landfall in northern Taiwan. After crossing
the island, Bilis made a second landfall in China’s Fujian
province on the 14th. The storm weakened to a tropical depression
over SE China the following day, and to a remnant low the day
after. This remained organised for several days thereafter,
moving slowly westwards and bringing very heavy rains to inland
China. Confusingly, Tropical Storm Bilis was also named Typhoon
Florita by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA), although it is questionable
whether wind speeds warranted typhoon status. |
| Data sources: |
|
ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc104?OpenForm&rc=3&cc=chn
Dartmouth Flood Observatory
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/
|
| Additional sources:
|
|
NASA Earth Observatory
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/
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| Image: |
|
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)
shows Bilis as a strongly asymmetric storm, with the heaviest
rain concentrated south of the storm centre. Here it is viewed
passing to the north of the Philippines on July 10th. Courtesy:
Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC)
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13711 |
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