ReliefWeb

REGIONAL SUMMARY:

Scattered and isolated rain showers were reported in Indonesia and the northern provinces of Thailand and Viet Nam, with Viet Nam reporting another barrage of hailstorm for this month. On the other hand, dry weather is still generally prevailing in the Mekong sub-region. Meanwhile, the region was shaken with several earthquakes of at least magnitude 5.0. Fortunately, none of these resulted to significant damages.

HIGHLIGHT:

The National Disaster Management Organisation of Viet Nam, Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA), reported another hailstorm that affected eight of its northern provinces - Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Bac Kan, Son La, and Ha Giang. Roofs of thousands of houses were reportedly destroyed due to the barrage of hails as large as quail eggs. The largest reported impact, however, is in the agricultural sector due to damages in high-value crops. The total cost of damage is estimated to be at least VND 14 B (~USD 600 K).

HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported the continued prevalence of dry weather over the Mekong subregion, with observed hazy conditions in northern Laor PDR, northern and central Thailand, and eastern Myanmar. Meanwhile, there were still reported scattered and isolated rain showers across Indonesia.

GEOPHYSICAL:

There were eight (8) earthquakes with magnitude 5.0 and above that occurred in Indonesia (BMKG) and the Philippines (PHIVOLCS). One of these earthquakes, specifically in Indonesia, is a shallow magnitude 6.6 earthquake south of the island of Bali. Fortunately, it didn’t trigger a tsunami and even was not reportedly felt.

OUTLOOK:

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) forecasts a rain showers to be expected in the northern parts of Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam. While dry weather is still expected to generally persist in the Mekong sub-region and there is an expected northward spread of dry conditions in peninsular Malaysia, easing of drier conditions in Borneo (Indonesia) is forecasted. In the southern ASEAN region, scattered rain showers is still forecasted in many areas.