ONE of the most devastating typhoons that hit the Philippines and caused colossal devastation was typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009. It dumped 17.91 inches of rain in Luzon, primarily Metro Manila, rainfall that could have fallen for a month but was off-loaded by the atmosphere for only more than 24 hours.
This is tame if we consider the rains brought by typhoon “Fabian” in July 2021. Authorities in Marikina City said Fabian released 5.27 inches of rain in one hour, swelling the Marikina River and causing great floods like Ondoy.
“Yolanda,” which leveled Leyte in November 2013, actually unloaded more rainwater in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro (8.7 inches) and Surigao, 6.06 inches. “Odette,” another strong typhoon that visited the Visayas and Mindanao in January 2022, managed to discharge 10.7 inches of rain.
The record rainfalls of Ondoy, Fabian, Yolanda, and Odette were dwarfed by the weather disaster in South Korea on July 13 to 14, during which time up to 23 inches of rain fell on the peninsula, triggering landslides and road collapses, wiping out crops, and damaging homes and other buildings.
There have been 40 deaths across the country, and nine people remain missing, one in the southern port city of Busan and eight in the southeastern North Gyeongsang province, according to the South Korean authorities.
‘Above all, everyone should heed the words of South Korean President Yoon, that in the field of weather patterns, we are facing the new normal which is extreme, sinister, and perilous.’
Cars, vans and at least one bus were trapped in a tunnel underpass in Osong near the city of Cheongju, about 112 km south of Seoul, when the Miho River burst its banks. Thirteen people were killed, with nine rescued at the scene, the Ministry of Public Administration and Safety said in a statement.
Fresh from his trip to Ukraine and other European countries, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol admitted at a news conference that unusual weather events had become “our new normal. We need to completely dismantle thinking that these extremes are an aberration.”
President Yoon cannot lay all the blame on the lack of preparedness by local government officials, although in the case of the flooded underpass or tunnel, local officials were clearly remiss in failing to block off the motorists’ entry into what became a flood trap.
South Korea has an annual monsoon season, but this was its second consecutive year of significant flooding. Last August, at least 11 people died, including some of Seoul’s most vulnerable residents who live in semi-underground apartments.
The Philippines, just like the Korean Peninsula, has an annual monsoon season and has to cope with at least 20 menacing storms/typhoons a year. We therefore have to enhance our science-based flood predictions and communication systems to reach as many people as possible during emergencies.
Both local and national disaster response officials should be meticulous and quick in implementing evacuation procedures, mindful that their mission is to save as many lives as possible.
Above all, everyone should heed the words of South Korean President Yoon, that in the field of weather patterns, we are facing the new normal which is extreme, sinister, and perilous. Guided by science and technology, our response should be audacious, thorough, and prompt.
