MODULE 1: Philippine Natural and Man-made Disasters

INTRODUCTION
Today our society continues to face the impact of COVID-19 pandemic although the condition has
improved a lot compared to when it first hit the country more than two years ago. Its impact has
affected the world’s economy and has brought a lot of people out of balance. Yet, we still have to deal
with other long-standing problems like the impact of many disasters that befall our country each year,
including earthquakes, volcano eruptions and typhoons. The aftermath of these disasters oftentimes
are threatening to both the physical and the mental conditions of the people. Hence, preparedness for
sudden occurrences is of utmost importance.

This module will provide you with information about the environment condition of the country. More
specifically, it will introduce you to the different types of disasters both natural and man-made.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this Module, you are expected to:

1. Recognize the factors that contribute to the occurrence of disasters in the country.
2. Explore the various disasters and their general effects to the Filipinos.
` 3. Distinguish which disasters fall under the category of natural and which fall under
man-made.

LESSON INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is said to be one of the most high-risk countries in the world for experiencing natural
disasters. Included in the possible natural disasters identified are earthquakes, floods,
mudslides, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions. Others mentioned that the Philippines has a high
vulnerability to natural hazards.
According to the Health and Safety Authority:
Hazard - potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons’. The terms
hazard and risk are often used interchangeably.
Risk - “ likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to
a hazard.’

What is the difference between hazard and disaster?

A hazard becomes a disaster when it actually happens in such a way that people are harmed.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a disaster as a sudden calamitous event bringing great
damage, loss, or destruction. While natural disaster refers to a sudden and terrible event in
nature that usually results in serious damage and many deaths
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20disasters). Disaster is also defined as an
event, either man-made or natural, sudden or progressive, the impact of which is such that the
affected community must respond through exceptional measures (IDRM Glossary of Disaster
Risk Management Terminology, 2015).
 MODULE 1: Philippine Natural and Man-made Disasters

INTRODUCTION
Today our society continues to face the impact of COVID-19 pandemic although the condition has
improved a lot compared to when it first hit the country more than two years ago. Its impact has
affected the world’s economy and has brought a lot of people out of balance. Yet, we still have to deal
with other long-standing problems like the impact of many disasters that befall our country each year,
including earthquakes, volcano eruptions and typhoons. The aftermath of these disasters oftentimes
are threatening to both the physical and the mental conditions of the people. Hence, preparedness for
sudden occurrences is of utmost importance.

This module will provide you with information about the environment condition of the country. More
specifically, it will introduce you to the different types of disasters both natural and man-made.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this Module, you are expected to:

1. Recognize the factors that contribute to the occurrence of disasters in the country.
2. Explore the various disasters and their general effects to the Filipinos.
` 3. Distinguish which disasters fall under the category of natural and which fall under
man-made.

LESSON INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is said to be one of the mostSIThigh-risk countries in the world for experiencingof
natural
disasters.
f& Included in the possible natural disasters identified are ☆ -8
earthquakes, floods,
F- typhoons, and SETTEE
mudslides, -8-6 volcanic eruptions. Others mentioned that the Philippines has a high
vulnerability to natural hazards.
According to theFIFE
Health and Safety Authority:
-980
Hazard - potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons’. The terms
hazard and risk are often used interchangeably.
480
Risk - “ likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to
a hazard.’

What is the difference between hazard and disaster?

A hazard becomes a disaster when it actually happens in such a way that☆f people are harmed.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a disaster as a sudden IFF calamitous event bringing great
damage, loss, or destruction. While natural disaster refers to a sudden and terrible event in
BE
nature that usually results in serious damage and many deaths
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20disasters). Disaster is also defined as an
event, either man-made or natural, sudden or progressive, the impact of which is such that the
TEPCO
affected community must respond through exceptional measures (IDRM Glossary of Disaster
Risk Management Terminology, 2015).
Coppola (2015) on the other hand stated that not all adverse events are disasters. Only those that
overwhelm response capacity. He further noted that disasters also grow in intensity as they
overwhelm progressively larger response units. A local disaster is mentioned as not a national
disaster if provincial response unit can manage the consequences. In addition, it is cited that
disasters are measured in terms of the lives lost, injuries sustained, property damaged or lost and
environmental degradation. These consequences are manifested through both direct and indirect
means and can be tangible and intangible.
Disasters are also said to be sudden onset or “creeping”. Sudden-onset disasters meaning they often
happen with little or no warning, and most of their damaging effects are sustained within hours or
days. Examples of these are earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, landslides, tornadoes, and floods.
Creeping disasters occur when the ability of response agencies to support people’s needs degrades
over weeks or months, and once discovered, they can persist for months or years. Examples are
drought, famine, soil salination, the AIDS epidemic, and erosion (Coppola, 2015).

One may ask, what exactly are the reasons behind the country’s susceptibility to the disasters as
mentioned? The succeeding section will look into the factors that contribute to the said condition as
presented in the Philippines Disaster Management Reference Handbook (2018).

COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Geography
The Philippines has a land area of roughly 300,000 square kilometers (115,830 sq.miles) of which
1137 sq. miles is water area. The country is surrounded by the South China Sea (also referred to as
the West Philippine Sea) to the west, the Philippines Sea to the east, the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea
in the south, and the Bashi Channel to the north.

The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of 7,107 islands, of which 2,000 are said to be occupied
and 11 islands which hold 95 percent of the total country’s land area. The country is divided into three
main geographic areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Philippines has an increased vulnerability to natural hazards, which are attributed to the nation’s
geographic position in Southeast Asia. The country is part of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. So called,
because it is one of the most geologically active areas. This is a circular arm of active volcanoes that
surrounds the Pacific Ocean basin. This area in the Pacific Ocean covers nearly 25,000 miles from
the southern tip of South America, to the west coast of North America, across the Bering Strait,
through Japan, and into New Zealand.

Topographically, the Philippines is scattered and separated by the sea. The country has one of
the longest shorelines of any country in the world. Mount Apo is an active volcano and holds the
highest point in the country at 2954 meters (9,692 feet) and is located in the southern ranges in
Mindanao.
Laguna de Bay, located to the southeast of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the
Philippines. Philippine geography comprises multiple river systems including the Pulangi, which flows
into the Mindanao River; the Agusan, in Mindanao which runs north into the Mindanao Sea; the
Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into
Manila Bay.
 (2015) on the other hand stated thatST A TE
,#§8
Coppola
T ATE not all adverse events are disasters. Only those that
overwhelm response capacity. He further noted that disasters also grow in intensity as they
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overwhelm progressively larger response units. AAalocal disaster is mentioned as not a national
disaster if provincial response unit can manage the consequences. In addition, it is cited that
disasters are measured in terms of the F- lives lost,☆FTf☆z→_@
injuries sustained, property damaged or lost and
environmental degradation. These consequences are manifested through both direct and indirect
Fsg
means and can be tangible and intangible.
Disasters are also said to be sudden onset or24-84
“creeping”. Sudden-onset disasters meaning they often
happen with little or no warning, and most of their damaging effects are sustained within hours or
days. Examples of these are 82-0earthquakes, BEATEN landslides,At
tsunamis, volcanoes,-00-28 tornadoes, and ☆_
floods.
Creeping disasters occur when the ability of response agencies to support people’s needs degrades
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over weeks or months, and once discovered, they can persist for months or years. Examples are
drought, famine, soil salination, the AIDS epidemic, and erosion (Coppola, 2015).

One may ask, what exactly are the reasons behind the country’s susceptibility to the disasters as
mentioned? The succeeding section will look into the factors that contribute to the said condition as
frissons
presented in the Philippines Disaster Management Reference Handbook (2018).

COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Geography

☆☆TDf_☆gg,
The Philippines has a land area of roughly 300,000 square kilometers (115,830 sq.miles) of which
1137 sq. miles is water area. The country is surrounded by the South China Sea (also referred to as
pop
the West Philippine Sea) to the west, the -835 Sulu Sea and -7*3
Philippines Sea to the east, the-6€ Celebes Sea
-000
in the south, and the Bashi Channel to the north.
.

The Philippines is an archipelago comprised ofgg7,107 islands, of which 2,000 are said to be occupied
and 11 islands which hold 95 percent of the total country’s land area. The country is divided into three
Luzon, Visayas, andOF
main geographic areas:4-0-0400 Mindanao.

Philippines has an increased vulnerability to natural hazards, which are attributed to the nation’s
-9*8
geographic position in Southeast Asia. The country is part of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. So called,
because it is one of the most geologically active areas. This is a circular arm of active volcanoes that
surrounds the Pacific Ocean basin. This area in the Pacific Ocean covers nearly 25,000 miles from
the southern tip of South America, to the west coast of North America, across the Bering Strait,
through Japan, and into New Zealand.

Topographically, the Philippines is scattered and separated by the sea. The country has one of
the longest shorelines of any country in the world. FAR
Mount Apo is an active volcano and holds the
highest point in the country at 2954 meters (9,692 feet) and is located in the southern ranges in
Mindanao.
Laguna de Bay, located to the southeast of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the
Philippines. Philippine geography comprises multiple river systems including the Pulangi, which flows
into the Mindanao River; the Agusan, in Mindanao which runs north into the Mindanao Sea; the
Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into
Manila Bay.
Borders
The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia between the Philippine Sea and the
South China Sea, and therefore has no land borders.

Climate
The Philippines has a tropical rainforest climate throughout the country due to its geographical
location. The main characteristics are high temperatures and high humidity which are present all year
long. The average temperature in the Philippines is 26°C (78.8°F).

Another characteristic is strong typhoons which occur June through November. Rainfall is likely every
month and differs throughout the year. Heavy rain is expected in June through October, while hardly
any rainfall occurs from December to May due to trade winds from the northeast. The monsoon is a
rainy wind originating from the southwest. Many of the Philippine islands are vulnerable to extreme
flooding and destruction during the typhoon season. The norther islands of the Philippines experience
a greater frequency of typhoons than the southern islands.

Climate Change
It is noted that the Philippines is extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts. Climate change
effects are expected to increase the occurrence of stronger typhoons, sea-level rise, and elevated
storm surges in coastal regions. Intensified storm surges are predicted to affect more than 40 percent
of the coastal population. Informal villages along the coast are at the highest risk of storm surge and
floods.

Also cited is that the agricultural production in the Philippines would be affected by climate change in
the region. Climate change related impacts will further cause damage to coastal coral reefs with
warming waters and acidification, lessening the catch potential for fisherman as the feeding and
reproduction grounds for many fish species will be destroyed. It is predicted that climate change
impacts could reduce the potential catch capacity by nearly 50 percent. This impact could result in
increased food security concerns in the region, as approximately 40 percent of dietary animal protein
consumption in Southeast Asia is from fish. Kindly refer to https://youtu.be/G4H1N_yXBiA to get
information about what causes climate change.

Now that you know the factors that contribute to the occurrence of natural disasters in the country, it
is time to review the various disasters that befall the country for the past few years according to the
Philippines Disaster Management Reference Handbook (2018).

Disaster Overview: Hazards

As previously mentioned, the Philippines has an increased vulnerability to natural hazards, which are
attributed to the nation’s geographic position in Southeast Asia within the “Ring of Fire” between two
tectonic plates (Eurasian and Pacific). The Philippines is most vulnerable to typhoons; however, it
is said that volcanoes, floods, landslides, earthquakes, droughts and tsunamis also pose
serious risks.
Borders
The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia between the Philippine Sea and the

ATE
South China Sea, and therefore has no land borders.

Climate
The Philippines has a-6000
tropical rainforest climate throughout the country due to its geographical
location. The main characteristics are high temperatures and high humidity which are present all year
long. The average temperature in the Philippines is☆o
26°C (78.8°F).

Another characteristic is strong typhoons which occur June through November. Rainfall is likely every
month and differs throughout the year. Heavy rain is expected in June through October, while hardly
any rainfall occurs from December to May due to trade winds from the northeast. The monsoon is a
rainy wind originating from the southwest. Many of the Philippine islands are vulnerable to extreme
flooding and destruction during the typhoon season. The norther islands of the Philippines experience
a greater frequency of typhoons than the southern islands.

I
Climate Change
It is noted that the Philippines is extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts. Climate change
effects are expected to increase the occurrence of stronger typhoons, sea-level rise, and elevated
storm surges in coastal regions. Intensified storm surges are predicted to affect more than 40 percent
of the coastal population. Informal villages along the coast are at the highest risk of storm surge and
floods.

Also cited is that the agricultural production in the Philippines would be affected by climate change in
/

the region. Climate change related impacts will further cause damage to coastal coral reefs with
warming waters and acidification, lessening the catch potential for fisherman as the feeding and
reproduction grounds for many fish species will be destroyed. It is predicted that climate change
impacts could reduce the potential catch capacity by nearly 50 percent. This impact could result in
I

increased food security concerns in the region, as approximately 40 percent of dietary animal protein
consumption in Southeast Asia is from fish. Kindly refer to https://youtu.be/G4H1N_yXBiA to get
information about what causes climate change.

Now that you know the factors that contribute to the occurrence of natural disasters in the country, it
is time to review the various disasters that befall the country for the past few years according to the
Philippines Disaster Management Reference Handbook (2018).

Disaster Overview: Hazards

As previously mentioned, the Philippines has an increased vulnerability to natural hazards, which are
attributed to the nation’s geographic position in Southeast Asia within the “Ring of Fire” between two
tectonic plates $8
(Eurasian andGqPacific). The Philippines is most vulnerable to typhoons; however, it
is said that volcanoes, floods, landslides, earthquakes, droughts and tsunamis also pose
serious risks.
 .

The nation’s natural hazards are said to be due to contributing weather and environmental factors
presented previously. It is further stated that in the Philippines, it is common for the occurrence of one
type of disaster to create conditions for another type of disaster. These interrelated hazards present
significant risks to infrastructure and housing, and contribute to negative societal and economic
effects.

Natural Hazards
A. Typhoons/Cyclones
A Cyclone is defined as any large system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric
pressure with a speed over 100 kmph. This swirling action happens in a counterclockwise direction
north of the Equator and in a clockwise direction to the south. The tropical cyclones are called as
hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean, as typhoons in the western Pacific , Philippines and China
and as willy-willies off the coasts of Australia. (Balsubramanian,2017).

It is cited that typhoons are both the most common and most destructive natural disasters in
the Philippines. The country is said to have been vulnerable to extreme weather. An average of
twenty (20) tropical cyclones enters the waters surrounding the Philippines every year and
approximately eight or nine tropical cyclones make landfall and cause loss of life and extensive
damage according to the article. It is also mentioned that for over the last ten years, tropical storms in
the Philippines have become more frequent and more severe. which is said to be due to the country’s
lack of natural barriers, thus nothing buffers the Philippine islands and the sea. This then intensifies
the damage caused by typhoons. The only known barrier that has been effective in dissolving
typhoon is the mountain range of Sierra Madre in Cagayan province, down to Quezon province.
Please refer to https://youtu.be/f4vT9Pzkawc for top 10 worst Philippine natural disasters.
-

B. Volcanoes
Sudden eruptions of volcanoes can create a lot of damages. Located on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, the
country lies at the intersection of two tectonic plates - the Eurasian and the Pacific. These plates
move continually, causing both volcanic events and earthquakes. As cited, the country is home to
roughly 300 volcanoes, of which 22 are classified as active and five are classified as highly active:
Taal, Mayon, Bulusan, Kanlaon and Hibok-Hibok

C. Earthquakes
Earthquakes are shaking of the earth’s crustal blocks due to the movement of plates and their rocks
along a fault or plate boundaries. The rocks under stress accumulate strain energy over a period of
time. When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, then the rock gets broken. The strain energy
is released as seismic waves. The longer that energy is stored up and is maintained without release,
the more likely that a strong earthquake will occur (Balsubramanian,2017).

The Philippines’ earthquake risk is said to be similar to that of its volcanic risk. The root cause of both
hazards is the same – the tectonic plate boundary. The country has an average of roughly 20
earthquakes each day. Strong earthquakes are a serious risk in the Philippines. The Philippine
 The nation’s natural hazards are said to be due to contributing weather and environmental factors
presented previously. It is further stated that in the Philippines, it is common for the occurrence of one
type of disaster to create conditions for another type of disaster. These interrelated hazards present
significant risks to infrastructure and housing, and contribute to negative societal and economic
effects. /

Natural Hazards
A. Typhoons/Cyclones

-3890
A Cyclone is defined as any large system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric
pressure with a speed over 100 kmph. This swirling action happens in aTOFFEE
counterclockwise direction
north of the Equator and in a clockwise direction to the south. The tropical cyclones are called as
hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean, as typhoons in the western Pacific , Philippines and China
and as willy-willies off the coasts of Australia. (Balsubramanian,2017).

It is cited that -80T€

typhoons are both the most common and most destructive natural disasters in
the Philippines. The country is said to have been vulnerable to extreme weather. An average of
SAA
twenty (20) tropical cyclones enters the waters surrounding the Philippines every year and
approximately eight or nine tropical cyclones make landfall and cause loss of life and extensive
damage according to the article. It is also mentioned that for over the last ten years, tropical storms in
the Philippines have become more frequent and more severe. which is said to be due to the country’s
lack of natural barriers, thus nothing buffers the Philippine islands and the sea. This then intensifies
the damage caused by typhoons. The only known barrier that has been effective in dissolving
typhoon is the mountain range of Sierra Madre in Cagayan province, down to Quezon province.
Please refer to https://youtu.be/f4vT9Pzkawc for top 10 worst Philippine natural disasters.

B. Volcanoes .

Sudden eruptions of volcanoes can create a lot of damages. Located on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, the
country lies at the intersection of two tectonic plates - the Eurasian and the Pacific. These plates
move continually, causing both volcanic events and earthquakes. As cited, the country is home to
roughly 300 volcanoes, of which 22 are classified as active and five are classified as highly active:
8*05
Taal, 000
Mayon, Bulusan,D8Kanlaon and 5*0
Hibok-Hibok

C. Earthquakes
Earthquakes are shaking of the earth’s crustal blocks due to the movement of plates and their rocks
along a fault or plate boundaries. The rocks under stress accumulate strain energy over a period of
time. When the stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, then the rock gets broken. The strain energy
is released as-9hL
seismic waves. The longer that energy is stored up and is maintained without release,
the more likely that a strong earthquake will occur (Balsubramanian,2017).

The Philippines’ earthquake risk is said to be similar to that of its volcanic risk. The root cause of both
hazards is the same – the tectonic plate boundary. The country has an average of roughly 20
earthquakes each day. Strong earthquakes are a serious risk in the Philippines. The-8 Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has recorded twelve destructive earthquakes
from 1968-2017. To know the 10 deadliest earthquakes in the Philippines visit
https://youtu.be/Cl8WKM-2pIE.
D. Floods
Floods are defined as relatively high flows which overtakes the natural channels provided for the
runoff (Balsubramanian,2017). Monsoon rains can be very damaging to the many low-lying,
marginally developed areas in the Philippines. Total annual rainfall is expected in the Philippines
ranging from 1 meter (3.28 feet) to 4 meters (13.12 feet). However, unusually strong monsoon
seasons have recently been exacerbated by increased urban development, which impedes the
traditional drainage channels and creates flooding hazards in urban areas. The Philippines is also at
a relatively high risk for sea level rise along the coast.

E. Tsunamis
Tsunamis are huge seismic sea waves that are generated by the earthquakes originating under the
sea. If the earthquake displaces the sea surface, waves are generated that can grow while moving
over the sea surface. (Balsubramanian,2017). It is noted that there is an elevated risk of tsunamis in
the Philippines due to it being an island nation with significant seismic activity. The coastlines are at
the highest risk of tsunami impacts and most of the coastal areas have endured minimal impacts of a
tsunami; although, the greater and more frequent risk in the Philippines is typhoon related flooding.
However, the nation has not endured any substantial tsunami-related economic impacts and does not
deem tsunamis a high-risk hazard.

F. Landslides
Landslides often initiated by other significant weather events, are a major hazard in the country. Most
of the nation’s regions, with the exception of the Palawan regions, are highly susceptible to
landslides. Landslides are commonly generated by a volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and typhoons
or increased monsoon rainfall. Landslide hazards are most common in the mountainous and inland
regions of the islands and tend to impact rural populations most heavily.

G. Droughts
The country endures weather conditions related to El Niño, including prolonged drought conditions
from postponements in seasonal monsoon precipitation. Severe drought conditions impact the
economy and the population. Droughts result in a lack of clean drinking water, water scarcity, reduced
hydro-power generation, an increase in waterborne disease, and loss of income.

Recent History of Natural Disasters

Recent History of Natural Disasters
Typhoon Nalgae - October 2022
More than 100 people have died in one of the most destructive storms to lash the Philippines this
year with dozens more feared missing after villagers fled in the wrong direction and got buried in a
boulder-laden mudslide. Almost two million others were swamped by floods in several provinces,
officials said Monday.
At least 53 of 105 people who died — mostly in flash floods and landslides — were from
Maguindanao province in a Muslim autonomous region, which was swamped by unusually heavy
rains set off by Tropical Storm Nalgae. The storm blew out into the South China Sea on Sunday,
leaving a trail of destruction in a large swath of the archipelago.

7.1 Earthquake - July 2022

A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Wednesday
killing at least five people, damaging buildings and sending strong tremors through the capital,
Manila.

According to officials, at least 64 people were injured and 173 buildings damaged, many in Abra
province, just 11km (six miles) from the epicentre of the quake. Over 200 aftershocks have been
recorded in the area, according to the state seismology agency, and 58 landslides were also reported
in the aftermath.

Typhoon Odette - 2021

Super Typhoon Odette (Rai ) was said to be the 15th storm to hit the country in 2021 and was the
strongest storm of 2021. The typhoon made landfall on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m. local time on
Siargao Island in southeastern Philippines. Odette has made several other landfalls at Category 3
and 4 intensities throughout the day as it moved through the Philippines. At 3:10 p.m. local time on
Friday, Dec. 17, the typhoon was observed to have made its ninth landfall in Roxas, Palawan, before
moving into the West Philippine Sea.

According to the report, more than 300,000 people evacuated ahead of landfall and millions were
affected. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council mentioned that more than
10,000 villages were in the path of the typhoon.

As of Jan. 3, 2022, the chief of the national disaster agency reported 407 deaths, 78 people missing
and nearly 1,150 people injured. However not all deaths, injuries or missing person reports have
been validated so numbers are subject to change. In December, the chief stated that “damage to
infrastructure and agriculture was estimated at 23.4 billion pesos ($459 million).”
Source: https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/super-typhoon-odette-rai/

Taal Volcano Eruption – Jan 2020

Three weeks after Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption on January 12, 2020 more than 400,000 people
have been affected. Moreover, environmental changes and social impacts of the eruption were
observed such as drying of Taal’s crater, ash deposits on the volcano island and the surrounding
provinces, increased turbidity in Laguna Lake, damaged fish pens, and ground deformation. Ashfall
covered towns north and west of Taal Lake. The towns west of Taal Lake greatly covered by ash in
this recent eruption were the previous location of towns that the 1911 eruption obliterated. Similarities
with the location of the fissures were observed after comparing maps of the 1911 eruption with the
data of the 2020 eruption according to Del Castillo et al. (2020).
Typhoon Ursula – 2019, damaged 527,201 houses.
Corona Virus Disease 2019
Corona Virus Disease of 2019 was an illness brought by SARSCOV2 virus that was first detected in
Wuhan China, which was originally classified as a Novel Corona Virus. According to the experts, this
is a viral spill-over from animals to humans, causing exponential infection to people with Sever Acute
Respiratory Syndrome that even leads to death. On March 2020, this disease was declared pandemic
by the World Health Organization, and on the same month, it started to threaten thousands of lives
of Filipino, by either being infected or died because of it, or lose their source of livelihood due to
national lock down or shutdown.
Multiple variants of the virus continued to raise havoc in the world, where the most feared version was
the Delta variant which is more severe and deadlier compared to the ancestral origin. The most
recent and most infectious variant is the Omicron, but not as deadly compared to Delta, which is
believed to be the sign of the end of pandemic war.
On the 2nd year of the pandemic (March 2022), according to Philippines Department of Health (DOH)
, the total reported cases in the country is 3.55M, with 56,451 fatality.

Mayon Volcano Eruption - Jan 2018

On 15 January 2018, two lava collapse events occurred in the Mayon Volcano (located in Albay
provice 300 km southeast of Manila), producing rockfall and ashfall in 29 villages of Camalig and
Guinobatan. As of 19 February 2018, approximately 90,000 people in six municipalities and two
cities of Albay province have been affected. Previously, in 2013, Mayon erupted killing five and
injuring seven individuals.

Tropical Cyclone Tembin - December 2017

Several provinces on the island of Mindanao were affected by Tropical Storm Tembin (known locally
as Vinta), killed more than 170 people, and the destruction displaced thousands, damaged houses
and livelihoods, affecting northern and central parts of Mindanao. According to the seventh Disaster
Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report issued by the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the storm affected at least 313,498 people in 998
barangays in regions.

Tropical Storm Kai-Tak - December 2017

Tropical Storm Kai-tak (known locally as Urduja) made landfall over San Policarpio, Eastern Samar
province. As a result of Kai-tak, two months of rain fell in 48 hours, triggering severe flooding.
Northern Samar Province, Tacloban and Ormoc cities declared a state of calamity. According to the
NDRRMC, a total of 435,220 families were affected in 2,524 barangays. Fourteen persons were
reported dead. Around US$1 million worth of damages were sustained on national roads, while
agricultural crops incurred around US$ 720,000 worth of damages.

Earthquake - July 2017

On 6 July 2017, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines. The earthquake had a depth of
6.49 kilometers; it had an epicenter located three kilometers north- northeast of Masarayao, Leyte. An
estimated 371,680 people lived within 15 kilometers of the epicenter. As of 19 July, nearly 1,000
aftershocks had occurred, including several over 4.0 in magnitude and a 5.8-magnitude quake on 10
July. Three deaths and 448 injuries were reported.

Earthquakes – February - March 2017

On 10 February 2017, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake with a depth of ten kilometers and an epicenter
located near Surigao City caused loss of lives and damage to properties in the Caraga region,
particularly in Surigao del Norte province.
On 5 March, a 5.9 magnitude tremor near the San Francisco Municipality occurred. The earthquakes
affected a total of 10,691 families, or 53,455 people, in 82 barangays in the Province of Surigao del
Norte. Eight people were reported dead and 249 people sustained injuries due to the initial
6.7-magnitude earthquake as well as the 5 March earthquake.

Floods and Landslides-January 2017

On 16 January 2017, over 63,000 people were displaced due to flash floods in northern Mindanao
and the Visayas with an estimated 48,000 people inside 115 evacuation centers.

Typhoon Haima - October 2016

On 19 October 2016, the typhoon made landfall in Cagayan as a category 4 storm. Eight deaths, all
males, including two minors and an infant, were attributed to this storm. These deaths all occurred
from landslides in Caraga (CAR). Additionally, there were two people reported missing. A total of
53,433 people were displaced in CAR and Regions I, II, III, IV-A and V, according to the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Floods and Landslides - August 2016

From 13-14 August 2016, heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon combined with
a low-pressure weather front, forced over 260,000 people to flee their homes. The intense monsoon
rains affected six regions of the country, mostly in Luzon, triggering flooding as well as landslides in
some parts of Rizal province and Northern Luzon. Days after the torrential rains, close to 18,000
people were housed in 77 designated evacuation centers across the country. On August 17,
Dagupan, a city 200 km north of Manila declared a state of calamity, following a city-wide flooding.

Typhoon Melor - December 2015

Typhoon Melor made landfall in Batag Island, Northern Samar, across southern Luzon, and made five
other landfalls on December 16, 2015. More than 730,000 people from five regions were evacuated
to evacuation centers. There were 41 confirmed deaths and over 199,850 houses were damaged.
Most damage to houses was in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro Northern Samar and Sorsogon.
Ninety-nine classrooms and 35 health facilities were damaged.

Typhoon Koppu - October 2015

On 14 October 2015, Typhoon Koppu (known locally as Lando) entered the Philippines. The
government reported at least 46 people died, 82 were injured and 5 were reported missing from the
storm. More than half a million people were evacuated, of which 108,700 people were in 424
evacuation centers. Government-led relief efforts transitioned to recovery operations three weeks into
the response to Typhoon Koppu.

Typhoon Hagupit - December 2014

Typhoon Hagupit (known locally as Ruby) made its first landfall in the Philippines’ Eastern Samar
province as a category 2 on 6 December 2014 with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per
hour and gusts of up to 210 kilometers per hour. The storm made a second landfall in the morning of
7 December in Cataingan municipality, Masbate province. It weakened into a tropical storm as it
continued to slowly move towards Batangas province, south of Manila, with moderate to heavy rain.
At the height of the evacuations on 9 December, 1.7 million people were in 5,193 evacuation centers.

Typhoon Rammasun - July 2014

Typhoon Rammasun (known locally as Glenda) made landfall over Lapu-Lapu in Albay province in
the eastern Philippines on 15 July 2014. It crossed the National Capital Region area the following
morning, impacting Metro Manila with strong winds and heavy rain, causing power outages and
interrupting telecommunications. Rammasun killed 100 people, destroyed more than 100,000 houses
and damaged 400,000 others. Half a million people were displaced and more than 27,000 people
sheltered in 108 evacuation centers.

Typhoon Haiyan - November 2013

Tropical Storm Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) initially formed in Micronesia, then gained strength,
continued west and made its first landfall on 8 November 2013 in Guiuan municipality of the Eastern
Samar province. Initial reports estimated that 4.3 million people were affected in 36 provinces. The
number of affected people rose to 14 million across nine regions, including four million people who
remained displaced from their homes. Humanitarian partners presented on 10 December the
Strategic Response Plan (SRP) for Typhoon Haiyan, which requested US$791 million to complement
the Government-led response and recovery efforts. The typhoon was the deadliest event of 2013 in
the Asia-Pacific, killing more than 6,000 people.

Typhoon Nari - October 2013

Typhoon Nari (locally known as Santi) hit the northern Philippines early on 12 October 2013, killing 13
people and affecting more than 200,000. More than 43,000 people (or 9,000 families) were displaced,
some living with host families and others in evacuation centers. More than 16,500 homes were
damaged. Bulacan province suffered extensive damage from flooding, with several villages
submerged and rice and vegetable farms damaged or destroyed.

At this point, you are now well aware of the different natural disasters that has occurred in the country.
It is now time to take a look at the man-made disasters. The following section will help you to define
man-made disasters and will acquaint you with some examples which occurred in the country and
abroad.
MAN-MADE DISASTERS
According to United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) (2018) man-made (i.e.,
anthropogenic, or human-induced) hazards are those “induced entirely or predominantly by
human activities and choices”. However, this term does not include the occurrence or risk of armed
conflicts and other situations of social instability or tension which are subject to international
humanitarian law and national legislation.
Technological hazards are normally considered a subset of man-made hazards.

Chemical, nuclear and radiological hazards, as well as transport hazards are defined as those
"originate from technological or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure
failures or specific human activities. Examples include industrial pollution, ionizing radiation, toxic
wastes, dam failures, transport accidents, factory explosions, fires and chemical spills. Technological
hazards also may arise directly as a result of the impacts of a natural hazard event. A technological
accident caused by a natural hazard is known as a Natech. Examples for disaster events related to
man-made hazards

● Disasters related to radiological hazard: The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of
2011 caused severe damages at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in a
large release of radioactivity into the environment. More than one hundred thousand people
were evacuated because of the release of radionuclides to the environment.

Technological hazards are normally considered a subset of man-made hazards.

● Disasters related to chemical hazard: On 9 December 2014, an oil tanker accident in the
Sundarbans of Bangladesh led to the release of approximately 350,000 litres of heavy fuel oil
into the river and mangrove ecosystem which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage and a
Ramsar site.
● Disasters related to chemical hazard: In December 1984, a major gas leak at a pesticide
plant in Bhopal, India resulted in the release of 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas. The incident
caused an estimated 3,800 deaths in the immediate aftermath and a significant higher
morbidity for the exposed population which the government reported to be more than 500,000
people.
● Disasters related to transport hazard: In July 1978, a road tanker transporting liquefied
propylene sprang a leak as it passed a camp site at Los Alfaques in Spain. The leak resulted
in the release of liquefied gas into the camp site, where it immediately ignited. The explosion
killed more than 200 people and the devastation spread for 400 yards in all directions.

Source: Words into Action Guidelines : Man-made and Technological Hazards. UNISDR 2018 |
Public consultation version

Global Man-made Disaster

Russia and Ukraine War - 24 February 2022
On the night of 24th February 2022, Russian launched a full scale invasion to Ukraine that brought
the whole world in complete dismay and fear on the possibility of escalation to World War 3. The
invasion was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin made an announcement on his decision to
launch the attack. Way months back, he denied that Russia will invade Ukraine and the current
military build up of forces was just a part of an ongoing exercises. Despite of the said announcement,
NATO and USA government denounced the report.

On February 28, 2022, there were 352 civilians and 14 children reported casualties, with 1,684
wounded and 368,000 refugees on neighboring countries.