| Tropical Storm Kai-tak (Urduja) | |
| Formed: | December 13, 2017 |
| Dissipated: | December 23, 2017 |
| Winds: | 40 |
| Pressure: | 994 |
| Winds: | 50 |
| Pressure: | 985 |
| Basin: | WPac |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Fatalities: | 83 total |
| Damages: | 74300000 |
| Areas: | Caroline Islands, Philippines, Malaysia |
| Season: | 2017 Pacific typhoon season |
Tropical Storm Kai-tak, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Urduja, was a late-season tropical cyclone that affected the Philippines during December 2017. The twenty-sixth named storm of the 2017 Pacific typhoon season, Kai-tak started as a tropical depression near Palau on December 11. Slowly intensifying, the system became a tropical storm on December 14. Due to its slow motion, Kai-tak made landfall in Samar on December 16 and traversed the Philippine Islands. Kai-tak later moved in a west-southwestward direction until it dissipated on December 23 near Malaysia.
When the storm inched closer to the Philippines, PAGASA sent a storm warning to Eastern Visayas and multiple other regions. Multiple families were sent to evacuation centers and schools, and many Filipino residents were advised to take caution. Class suspensions were also noted within the country. After the storm hit the Philippines, the storm went over the South China Sea, eventually reaching Brunei and Malaysia. Some preparations were made, with shelters created and local governments monitoring the storm.
Damage was caused in many regions, more specifically Eastern Visayas. Ports were affected, causing tourists to be stranded. Floods were noted over in Tacloban and multiple other big cities. Even southern provinces were affected, like Zamboanga. The storm eventually crossed over to Brunei and Malaysia, though not making landfall over the two nations. Heavy floods were still noted over the two nations, causing one death. The storm caused 83 deaths and US$74.3 million in damage. Massive floods and landslides led to extensive rescue operations and aid operations. The effects of the storm caused the retirement of the name Kai-tak, and later Urduja.
The origins of Kai-tak were from a near-equatorial trough.[1] On December 10, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began to monitor a low-pressure area located about 130 kilometers (80 miles) to the east of Palau, with the storm growing because of warm seas and marginally favorable environment. The storm expanded, though the storm was offset by moderate vertical wind shear.[2] The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a weak tropical depression the next day,[3] and began issuing advisories on 00:00 UTC of December 12, also reporting the storm as stationary.[4] Nine hours later, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared that the system had intensified into a tropical depression and was immediately given the local name Urduja,[5] located 480km (300miles) northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.[6]
The system barely moved from the following days because of weak steering currents between a subtropical ridge over the western Pacific and another over the Bay of Bengal, plus another one to its south.[7] On December 13, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert.[8] On 21:00 UTC of that same day, the JTWC upgraded the system to a tropical depression and also began issuing advisories, giving the identifier 32W.[9] Despite the system being poorly organized with loose banding, the system also was located in an area of very low wind shear.[10] Three hours later, both the JTWC and JMA[11] upgraded the system to a tropical storm after better organization and deep banding,[12] with the latter assigning the storm the international name Kai-tak.[13] [14]
On December 14, the storm started expanding, with better convection and proper maintenance after the convective maximum, even with strong wind shear.[15] At approximately 12:00 UTC, Kai-tak reached its peak intensity, with 75abbr=offNaNabbr=off winds estimated by the JMA.[16] [17] A few hours later, the storm started moving towards Samar Island, going back east. The storm went back and forth over the following days in a circle-like manner, eventually moving back towards Northern Samar. The storm had strong poleward outflow and weak equatorward outflow, though the system still was expected to intensify.[18] On December 15, Kai-tak weakened because of strong wind shear.[19] The storm later remained stationary after subtropical ridges were spotted to the north and northeast.[20] Seven hours later, the system had undergone deep convective diurnal maximum, covering the low-level circulation center.[21]
On December 16, the storm weakened even more, turning into a tropical depression, later making landfalls in San Policarpo, Eastern Samar on approximately 13:30 PHT (5:30 UTC) on December 16. The next day, landfalls were recorded in the northern part of the Visayas archipelago, on Mobo, Masbate on approximately 10:00 PHT (2:00 UTC), and then over Sibuyan Island on approximately 12:00 PHT (4:00 UTC), and then on Malay, Aklan on 18:00 PHT (10:00 UTC). The storm later made landfall on Cuyo, Palawan on 23:00 PHT (15:00 UTC) and on Taytay, Palawan the next day, leaving the Philippines.[22] After a decrease in wind shear, the thunderstorms increased and Kai-tak became a tropical storm again on December 20.[23] However, stronger wind shear weakened it back to a depression on December 21. Despite weakening, the storm affected Malaysia and Brunei before dying out in the South China Sea on December 23.[24] [25] [26] [27]
On December 12, cloudy skies and thunderstorms were predicted in the Mindanao region of the Philippines, with other closer regions having a possibility of flash floods and landslides. On December 14, as soon as PAGASA upgraded Kai-tak (Urduja) to a tropical storm, Public Storm Warning Signal #2 was immediately raised in Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran.[28] Public Storm Warning Signal #1 was also raised in the majority of Bicol Region (Region V) and much of Visayas while moderate to heavy rainfall were warned within a 400km (200miles) diameter of the storm.[29] Residents were already advised to prepare against flooding as the moderate to heavy rainfall area was extended to within a 500km (300miles) diameter. On December 15, PAGASA also announced the possibility of a storm surge of NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) over in Samar.[30] Suspension of classes in the Bicol Region were also declared in all six levels. With all the Local Government Units in Mimaropa were placed on Red Alert. On December 17, 17 areas were downgraded from Signal No. 2 to Signal No. 1.[31] The storm resulted in at least 728 families (1,418 individuals) brought to evacuation centers or schools, The storm also created the suspension of classes in 14 provinces.[32]
Shortly before landfall, Brunei's government issued a red weather alert, warning residents about risk of flooding.[33] In Malaysia, the government closely monitored the storm, warning close villages.[34] The government later issued warnings to eight states, specifically Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Perak, Perlis, Kedah, Penang Island, and Terengganu.[35]
The NDRRMC noted at least 89,000 people fleeing to evacuation centers.[36] The NDRRMC confirmed a total of 83 people dead and calculated a total of Php3.747 billion (US$74.3 million) worth of infrastructure and agricultural damages,[37] [38] affecting 44,500 farmers.[39] In a case study, an estimated amount of 35,286 homes were damaged, with 2,748 of them being totally destroyed and 32,538 being partially damaged, and the study also showed that 1,800,000 individuals were affected by the storm.[40] There were also affected families in Mimaropa, the Western Visayas, and Caraga.[41] Power lines in 39 settlements toppled and some bridges fell to the ground.[42] In a report by the DSWD, there were reported power outages in the provinces of Romblon and Marinduque. The storm also affected the town of San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, prompting an immediate response by the Philippine Red Cross.[43]
The city of Tacloban was placed under a state of calamity as decided by their local council as 80 of the 130 villages were flooded.[44] Sea travel near the affected areas were later cancelled because of the storm. The storm later flooded some parts of the Philippines and caused some landslides, with 31 people dying in the sole province of Biliran,[45] which included a landslide killing 23 of the people in the Naval barangay of Lucso-on.[46] Two people also died in Mimaropa, and 78 people were injured from the storm.[47] Three people also died in the province of Leyte, with a boy who drowned in the town of Mahaplag, a woman buried by a landslide, and another person who drowned in Ormoc. Vice-Governor of Eastern Samar Marcelo Picardal also stated that half the towns in Eastern Samar was flooded.[48] Classrooms in Catbalogan were also used to evacuate families.[49] Because of the storm, 52 vessels and 1,322 cargoes were stranded. One port in Metro Manila was damaged, the Port of Manila, nine ports in Eastern Visayas was affected with the Port of Jubasan stranding over 1,000 people, 11 ports in the Bicol region were affected with the Port of Matnog having a whopping 3,000 people stranded, seven ports in Western Visayas were affected but with no real interruption, five ports in Calabarzon were affected with the Port of Calapan having 1,000 people stranded, and three ports in South Visayas were affected with only 18 passengers stranded.[50] Because of the storm, 98% of Boracay was also flooded.[51] The mayor of Ormoc eventually put Ormoc in a state of calamity, stating in a post: "More work ahead. To the residents of this city Pls lend some of your valuable time to help our fellow Ormocanon".
Damage for the provinces of Eastern Samar, Masbate, and other closely affected areas amounted over Php543,000 (US$9.5 thousand) and agricultural damage near the affected areas totaled over Php400 million (US$6.9 million). Tacloban also had flash floods up to 1.5m (04.9feet). The storm also destroyed 2000ha of rice fields, or about 90% of Tacloban's rice.[52] The flood also contaminated Tacloban City's supply of tap water. After, other southern provinces were affected, including Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Sur and Norte, and some parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula.[53] The total amount of rainfall amounted to 1067mm in Guiuan, 812mm in Borongan Airport, and 1000mm outside of Eastern Visayas.[54]
On December 19 and 20, heavy floods struck Brunei, displacing 94 people. The next day, government assistance gave supplies to the affected individuals.[55] In Kampong Ayer, a boat capsized, leaving one person dead. The flood affected 22 communities and damaged 137 houses. On December 19, Kai-tak entered the South China sea, bringing additional rainfall in the eastern portion of Malaysia. As a response, two officials visited flood affected areas.[56] Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah provided assistance and donations to flood affected areas, including Temburong District.[57]
See also: List of retired Pacific typhoon names.
After the storm, retrieval operations started, with over 40 people missing, mostly declared dead. In Biliran, bulldozers dug dirt in hopes of finding bodies.[58] [59] Military trucks also drove in flooded areas, trying to rescue trapped residents. After the storm hit, president Rodrigo Duterte paid a visit to the storm-affected areas. Affected people were brought to shelters, where tap water was donated by local charities. Some local government units initiated their response and distributed shelter materials and aid. The local Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWD) offered 40 people to help aid projects and other needs. Php184 million (US$3 million) worth of aid was also given to affected residents, coming from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units, and other charities. The DSWD also gave 1,050 meal packs in the Bicol Region.[60]
In Eastern Visayas, the charity ACTED distributed about 10,000 kits to the municipalities of Salcedo, Eastern Samar and Mercedes, Eastern Samar.[61] In Tacloban, SM Supermalls distributed 1,390 packs of relief goods, with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) giving relief goods to 5,035 families in Tacloban.[62] In Biliran, two of the main bridges were damaged, leading the president to order Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately fix the bridges to help disaster response.[63]
During the disaster response, New People's Army rebels attacked soldiers in Northern Samar, with two soldiers wounded in the attack.[64] The attack was controversial, with some alleging human right violations because of the attack. The attack also affected relations between the Philippine Government and the New People's Army, with the New People's Army later denied any wrongdoing.[65]
Because of the storm, China gave Php5 million (US$100 thousand) to the Philippines to help rebuilding efforts. The cash was given by Sun Yi of the Chinese Embassy in Manila representing the Chinese Red Cross. The Secretary-General of the Philippine Red Cross, Oscar Palabyab, stated "the Chinese side has always been the first to respond and extend helping hands whenever the Philippines and its people are in [state of] difficulties." The storm also garnered a sympathetic response by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.[66]
In January 2018, the mayor of Cabucgayan, Mayor Edwin Masbang, encouraged tree-planting as a way of protection from storms, mainly Kai-tak. He later announced a forestation project assisted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.[67] Shortly after, a project was initiated for recovery efforts after the storm. the project required three phases, the planning, which was initiated in December and was finished in January, Implementation, which was deployed shortly after and ended in February, and the second phase, with whom a partner deploys another related project, which was deployed in April and ended in the end of the year. The project started when Shelter Projects had the idea to deploy a relief plan after the storm. Supplies were loaded in a warehouse, which were then given to the beneficiaries. In total, 900 kits, 57 tents, 1,914 solar lights, 1,800 mosquito nets, 1,795 water carriers, and 1,800 blankets were given to the beneficiaries. House Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez created a bill to create a national agency focusing on disaster response mainly because of the storm, with the bill pending since 2022.[68]
On December 21, 2017, PAGASA announced that the name Urduja had been retired from their naming lists after causing more than Php1 billion (US$17 million) worth of damage, also retiring within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).[69] Urduja was later replaced by the name Uwan by PAGASA.[70]
Due to the damage and high death toll in Visayas, the name Kai-tak was officially retired during the 50th annual session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee in February 2018. In February 2019, the Typhoon Committee replaced it with the name Yun-yeung, which was first used at the 2023 season.[71]
A few days after the storm, another storm called Typhoon Tembin hit the Philippines, leading to 266 deaths.[72]