Typhoon Sarika

Landfall | Summary
Posting Date: October 17, 2016, 10:30:00 AM

Typhoon Sarika made landfall in the Philippines on Sunday morning local time in the town of Baler in eastern Manila, packing strong Category 3 winds of up to ~209 km/h (according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center) and significant rainfall that displaced thousands of residents, grounded hundreds of flights, left thousands without power, isolated villages with flooding, and has led to several fatalities.

Track map of Typhoon Sarika as of 12:00 UTC on October 17, 2016. (Source: JMA)

Sarika weakened while crossing mountainous Luzon; further weakening was recorded as it moved into the South China Sea. As of 12:50 UTC on October 17, 2016, the Japanese Meteorological Agency reported that Typhoon Sarika was moving west-northwestward at 20 km/h with maximum sustained winds of ~143 km/h and a minimum central pressure of 965 mb.

Leading up to landfall in the Philippines, the town of Virac, capital of the province of Catanduanes, received almost 22 inches of rain between Friday and Saturday; the nearby town of Daet received more than 21 inches of rain in the same time period.

Reported Impacts

Heavy rain triggered flooding that isolated villages in the Philippines and displaced about 15,700 people. Sarika left more than 246,000 residents without power and telephone service due to strong winds and flooding, and more than 400 had to be evacuated. Air and sea travel were suspended. Reports indicate that roofs have been ripped off of multiple houses, and at least 20 houses were completely destroyed. Disaster officials said damage to crops, mostly rice and corn, was initially estimated at PHP 53.5 million (USD 1.1 million).

Approximately 130 emergency shelters have been established, according to disaster response agencies, many of which remain populated. In Baler, Aurora mayor Nelianto Bihasa said more than 1,000 people were staying in the town's evacuation centers as of Sunday local time.

Exposure at Risk

Luzon is the world’s 15^th largest island, and northern Luzon experiences typhoons more frequently than any other part of the Philippines; the Metro Manila region in the south is the nation’s economic and political center. Beyond Metro Manila, there is little commercial or industrial activity in Luzon’s other regions, which are lightly populated and mountainous and/or agricultural.

In rural areas of the Philippines, lighter materials—such as wood frame with galvanized iron or aluminum roofs—are often used for residential buildings. In contrast, urban residential structures are generally made of concrete block with metal roofs, although hollow concrete is also used. Masonry residences and high-rise apartments of steel construction can also be found in the cities. The majority of all commercial and industrial buildings are reinforced concrete or steel, although masonry is often used for smaller commercial establishments. Building codes are not strictly enforced.

One- and two-story buildings of mixed construction (concrete and wood) are common in Luzon. In Manila, high-rise commercial and apartment buildings are generally built to stricter code requirements. In addition, commercial and apartment buildings usually have stronger foundations than residential buildings, and these foundations provide stronger resistance to flood loads.

Industry Impacts

Typhoon and flood damage are usually covered together in the Philippines and are offered under separate fire policies with named perils extensions. Reports of significant wind damage have been relatively scarce, but the impacts of flooding on exposures will continue to surface. Landslides and flash floods could cause significant water and structural damage. Flood is much more damaging to the lower floors of multi-story buildings, making the commercial establishments on the first floor of many apartment buildings in the Philippines vulnerable to flood conditions. However, given that insurance penetration is typically no more than 10% to 20%, insured losses are not expected to be significant as a result of this event.

Forecast Track and Intensity

Typhoon Sarika is expected to continue on its track west-northwestward across the South China Sea, further weakening as it moves toward its second landfall in Hainan Province, China, on Tuesday, October 17, 2016, as a Category 1-equavelant storm.

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Posting Date: October 17, 2016, 10:30:00 AM