[16] The watershed, covering an area of 4,567 hectares (11,285 acres), is only 3.3 percent forested, with the remainder being used for agricultural and private purposes. Ormoc, until we meet again. At least 4,000 people were killed in the flashfloods triggered by heavy rains. Seeing the images from Typhoon Sendong has brought back a flood of memories. A sculpture and monument to the victims, designed by architect Maribeth Ebcas and artist Florence Cinco respectively, called "Gift of Life" was constructed on a 1.3 km2 (0.8 mi2) plot of land. Haha! Roaring waters came down from the hills with logs and uprooted trees. In 1991, massive flooding and landslides brought on by a strong typhoon resulted in the deaths of nearly 8,000 people in Ormoc City, Leyte. We had to place our children on top of the refrigerator. Throughout the country, at least 5,081 people lost their lives while another 1,941–3,084 were missing and presumed dead. These projects helped cut the number of casualties recorded during the onslaught of Yolanda in 2013. – Rappler.com. Debris, from the forest carried by the flash flood, is piled-up on houses, November 9, 1991, in Ormoc City. I haven't seen the city in many years but even before I left for my review and eventual work, there's already hardly any trace of this tragedy today. Part of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season Tropical Storm Thelma (international designation: 9125 , JTWC designation: 27W , Philippine name: Uring ) was the deadliest tropical storm of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season , killing more than 6,000 people as it crossed the Philippines. Despite being back over water, strong wind shear prevented re-intensification and caused Thelma to weaken to a tropical depression by November 7. [19] The force of the water and mud was enough to crack the walls of city hall. Tropical Storm Thelma, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Uring, was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in Philippine history, killing at least 5,081 people. [16] Normally, it takes water in the Anilao and Malbasag rivers roughly 3.6 and 5.6 days, respectively, to reach Ormoc City; however, it only took one hour during the flood. [13][14], The greatest tragedy during Tropical Storm Thelma took place in the city of Ormoc after torrential rains overwhelmed the Anilao–Malbasag watershed, sending flood waters rushing down the deforested mountainside. It was caused by typhoon "Uring" (international name: Thelma). Initially, forecast models showed the system continuing on an arcing path out to sea; however, the system turned westward on November 2 and threatened the Philippines. [19] Officials had difficulty determining how to best deal with mass casualties as bodies lay across the Ormoc region. [13][14], The greatest tragedy during Tropical Storm Thelma took place in the city of Ormoc after torrential rains overwhelmed the Anilao–Malbasag watershed, sending flood … The greatest tragedy during Tropical Storm Thelma took place in the city of Ormoc after torrential rains overwhelmed the Anilao–Malbasag watershed, sending flood waters rushing down the deforested mountainside. [17] The natural structure of the mountains further contributed to the floods, with slopes as steep as 60 percent grade in some areas. Here are some of its proudest attractions that have made Ormoc a city of heritage, bridging the province's past to the present. After turning southwestward in response to a cold front, the system intensified into a tropical storm on November 4 as it approached the Philippines. Many landslides ranging from 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) deep and 50 to 100 m (160 to 330 ft) wide occurred across the region. [17] The majority of construction along the river did not take flooding threats into account, and actually increased the threat of these events. The local government and JICA initiate flood mitigation and reforestation projects in response to the 1991 disaster. [19] By November 7, search and rescue operations were underway across Leyte and Negros Occidental. [4][5], Hours before striking the Philippines on November 4, both agencies reported Thelma to have reached its peak intensity. The turn became the final trigger in the disaster as it created an "instantaneous backwater effect," causing massive volumes of water to over-top the riverbank. The city gripped by disaster in 1991 has apparently bounced back. In 1998, an ₱800 million (US$20.6 million) construction project for flood mitigation was approved and later completed in 2001. Additionally, monsoonal winds to the southwest of Thelma converged over the island, further enhancing the precipitation. The intense rainfall, which had been going on for several days, triggered a massive volume of water to rampage downstream with debris and land sediments. COVERING THE ORMOC TRAGEDY November 1991. It was designed to also depict a need to respect nature and be a message of hope for residents in Ormoc. [17] Roughly 2,500 people lived on this reclaimed land prior to the flood. It was morning of November 5, 1991 when Uring brought heavy rain over Leyte, including Ormoc City. November of this year, let us commemorate 20 years since a catastrophic flashflood wreaked havoc to the lives in Ormoc. Water was supplied in limited quantities from Cebu. ORMOC CITY commemorated on Tuesday the Nov. 5, 1991 flash flood, brought about by typhoon Uring (international name: Thelma), where over 8,000 people died, including some 3,000 whose bodies were never found. In a post-disaster assessment in October 1992, it was stated that swift cooperation of all agencies from local to governmental was necessary to prevent tragedies of similar caliber in the future. This total nearly doubled two days later with grants from the United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, World Vision International, Médecins Sans Frontières, Caritas, various branches of the Red Cross, and the governments of Canada and New Zealand. Both Bernal and de los Santos said the flood control measures succeeded in preventing a flash flood when Typhoon Gilas came in 2003, bringing the same volume and level of water as Typhoon Uring did in 1991. We all survived. A total of 598,454 people were affected while an estimated 43,000 people were left homeless by the storm across the Philippines. A total of 4,446 homes were destroyed while another 22,229 were damaged. But more than two decades ago, residents of Ormoc had faced a similar tragedy, when hundreds of people were killed in a matter of hours due to flash floods that submerged the city. But it was not clear why the typhoon unloaded such heavy rains when it crossed Leyte. Mitala 4,922 ang namatay, 3,000 ang wala makit-i, 14,000 nagubang mga balay, ug nagkantidad nga labaw pa sa P600 mil ang nagubang mga katigayonan. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) cited Ormoc City as model for disaster resiliency in the Philippines. At a young age, I felt a terrible sensation of being disturbed when poor locals of Ormoc had been ravaged by series of landslides and flashfloods way back 1991. The eruption resulted in the deaths of roughly 800 people and left nearly 1 million homeless. [6] Late on November 3, the depression turned west-southwestward towards the Visayas in response to an approaching cold front, an event typical of late-season cyclones in the basin. [22] In order to prevent the spread of disease, mass graves were dug, with 700 bodies buried on November 8. [4][5] Thelma soon made landfall in Samar before weakening to a minimal tropical storm. JICA said the local government of Ormoc has successfully sustained past cooperation activities with JICA including flood mitigation structures such as dikes and river dams built by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the aftermath of Typhoon Uring (Thelma) in 1991. Relief efforts in Ormoc City were hampered by a lack of clear roads and fuel. In heavy rain events, this feature leaves the upper two-thirds of the mountain range unstable. [4] In Tacloban, 140.2 mm (5.52 in) fell over a 24‑hour span. [21][22] Additionally, 3,020 people were injured. In some instances, waters reached a depth of 10 m (33 ft) before the dams collapsed. Eventually, signs that used to warn people not to stay on the islet were eventually taken down and people were no longer warned not to live there. [13] People were given a can of sardines and 1 kg (2.2 lb) of rice at these centers. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 215,03 This notion was quickly dismissed as improbable, however. [25] International funding reached $2.5 million on November 12, with grants of $1.05 million, $1 million, $188,000 from the Netherlands, Japan, and Australia respectively. Ultimately, approximately $5.8 million was provided in international assistance from 13 nations, the United Nations, the Red Cross, and various non-governmental organizations. The heaviest rain occurred on Leyte Island due to orographic lift, which brought large quantities of moisture into the atmosphere over a relatively small area. [13], Supply distribution centers were established in Ormoc, providing residents with food, water, and materials, by November 11. 234 The Name Named after the City of Ormoc. (READ: FAST FACTS: Leyte and natural disasters). Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo “Toto” Locsin joined local officials in remembering the victims of the 1991 Ormoc Tragedy, where thousands of residents died and many more families were displaced by flashfloods that hit the city. Back in 1991, tropical storm Uring (international name: Thelma) ravaged the entire city and triggered furious flash floods that killed thousands of people too. With the deployment of medical teams from Japan, hospitals in the region returned to full capacity. According to the report, intense rainfall caused the massive flooding in Ormoc and parts of Eastern and Western Leyte. Thank you for the peace, may peace you will also find. Ormoc tragedy (November 5, 1991), in the wake of Typhoon Uring (International Name: Tropical Storm Thelma), the deadliest of the 1991 Pacific typhoon season. The majority of casualties and damage took place in Ormoc when a flash flood devastated the city. [33] Long-term rehabilitation of the watershed was deemed necessary in addition to repairing infrastructure in Ormoc. The dead were so … The request for assistance came the following day, with the Philippines requesting food, water, medicine, emergency supplies, and heavy machinery. With its P5.9 billion assets, Ormoc had overtaken the P3 billion total assets of the region’s administrative center Tacloban. The tragedy also became part of the city’s history that should never be ignored, he went on. [11] The majority of those missing were likely swept out to sea by the flood and presumed dead. Additionally, the United States provided 55,000 packages of food rations. [7] Initially, residents believed that waterspouts transported tremendous amounts of water to the island, triggering the floods. [11], The hardest hit region was Leyte, where more than 4,000 people lost their lives. The country's government was reportedly struggling to deal with the scope of the disaster and the addition of Thelma worsened the situation. That year, Tropical Depression Auring caused flooding of similar magnitude to Thelma; however, the waters were properly diverted to the sea. Several points were also brought up about rehabilitating the landscape of the watershed: reforestation, contoured farming, and redesigning of plantations to better retain rainwater. "Ugmuk" or "Ogmuc," meaning, "lowland" or "plain." [21] Numerous low-income families lived along the banks of the river, despite being such a high-risk area. Tambulilid is actually a relocation site for the survivors of Typhoon Uring, a calamity that killed over 5,000 people in Ormoc in 1991. Hours before moving over the Visayas, Thelma attained its peak intensity with estimated ten-minute sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) and a barometric pressure of 992 mbar (hPa; 29.29 inHg). Considered one of the worst tragedies in the nation’s history, landslides from Uring’s heavy rains caused the death of more than 5,000 people in Ormoc City, Leyte in 1991. The flash-flood tragedy in Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines on November 5, 1991 caused the death of about 5,000 people. Ormoc City tragedy Location of Ormoc on Leyte Island. The actress and model turned congresswoman of Ormoc. A total of $5.8 million worth of grants and materials was provided collectively in the international relief effort. Tropical Storm Thelma, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Uring, was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in Philippine history, killing at least 5,081 people. [18] Concrete walls and levees were built into the river rather than on the banks, leading to faster debris damming. As a way of avoiding similar breaching of the riverbank, it was suggested that the two rivers be dredged and possibly re-channeled. [34], This article is about the 1991 tropical storm in the Philippines. This structure constricted the river by as much as 50 percent, enhancing the build up of water. The city now hosts two malls which opened in 2018—Robinson’s Place Ormoc and SM Center Ormoc. The greatest tragedy during Tropical Storm Thelma took place in the city of Ormoc after torrential rains overwhelmed the Anilao–Malbasag watershed, sending flood waters rushing down the deforested mountainside. ", Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, United Nations Disaster Relief Organization, List of retired Pacific typhoon names (JMA), "Historical deadly typhoons in the Philippines", "The Twelve Worst Typhoons Of The Philippines (1947–2009)", "Updates re Effects of Typhoo "Yolanda" (Haiyan)", National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, "Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: Typhoon Thelma (27W)", "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991: Chapter 2: Meteorological Conditions", Report on Cyclonic Disturbances (Depressions and Tropical Cyclones) over North Indian Ocean in 1991, "Storm-triggered mudslides, floods kill 2,300 Filipinos", "20 Worst Typhoons of the Philippines (1947–2009)", "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991 Chapter 1: The Ormoc City Tragedy", "Floods, landslides from tropical storm kill 2,337 in Philippines", "Philippines Floods Nov 1991 UNDRO Situation Reports 1-8", "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991: Chapter 4: Contributing Physical Factors", "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991 Chapter 3: Flood Event", "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991: Chapter 6: Critical Social Conditions", "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991: Chapter 6: Evaluation", "2,300 Dead as Storm Batters the Philippines", "Reconnaissance Report: Flooding Resulting From Typhoon Uring In Ormoc City, Leyte Province, The Philippines", "Tropical Storm Thelma: Survivors looks for relatives in aftermath", "The Philippines: Search continues for bodies of victims", FINAL REPORT Effects of Typhoon YOLANDA (HAIYAN), Worst typhoons of the philippines (1947-2014), "10 Worst Typhoons that Went Down in Philippine History", "Flashback: 1897, Leyte and a strong typhoon", Final Report on the Effects and Emergency Management re Tropical Storm SENDONG (WASHI), "The Ormoc City Tragedy of November 5, 1991: Chapter 7: Recommendations", "Summary of Retired Typhoons in the Western North Pacific Ocean", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tropical_Storm_Thelma&oldid=995305147, Articles with dead external links from April 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 5,081 – 8,165 total (4,922 dead solely in, Other Philippine tropical cyclones that have claimed more than 1,000 lives, Other disasters that took place in the Philippines around the time of Thelma, This page was last edited on 20 December 2020, at 09:30. Outside of Ormoc City, 159 people were killed across Leyte and Negros Occidental. [13], The sheer magnitude of the flood event in the Anilao–Malbasag watershed made the region more vulnerable to future flood events. With the majority of this falling in a three-hour span, an unprecedented flash flood took place on the island. [12] Two days after the storm, several bodies of those swept out to sea washed back ashore. [2] On October 31, convection associated with the system quickly increased, prompting the issuance of a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). At least 81 people were killed outside Ormoc and another 14 went missing; 42 lost their lives in Burauen. [16][19] The flooding lasted for roughly three hours, leaving up to 0.6 m (2.0 ft) of sediment behind. A resettlement community was constructed months later, with plans to house 912 of the 2,668 families that needed to be moved from the area. Be that as it may, Ormoc is no stranger to the horrors of a widespread tragedy. [7] On November 4, both the JTWC and JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm, with the former assigning it as Thelma. [15] Altogether, rains were twice as heavy as the land could handle and the many landslips doubled the volume of fluids. Aside from the heavy rainfall, the Manila Observatory's report identified other factors that contributed to the massive devastation. While passing over the Philippines, Thelma's interaction with the high terrain of some of the islands resulted in torrential rainfall. The soil in the Ormoc watershed exceeded its capacity to hold water, while the central part of the island of Leyte, classified as volcanic terrain, has soil that is susceptible to erosion.Â, The flooding was also exacerbated by debris from poorly-made infrastructure. Flashback: The flash flood tragedy in 1991 which killed thousands of people was one of the worst natural disasters that struck the country. I could still recall the horrific views in every newsflash that time and it really made me sick in a way or two. Automatic weather stations launched in Leyte. The Ormoc tragedy, as it … By November 22, electricity and water had been 70 percent and 60 percent restored, respectively. [18] It was urged that residents still living along the river banks be relocated to safer areas; however, by the time of the report, people had already begun repopulating the area. [18] At various points along rivers, temporary dams created by debris, namely trees, allowed a build up of water upstream. [15] According to a study in 1990, roughly 90 percent of the watershed had been converted into coconut and sugarcane plantations. In Ormoc City, power and communications lines were cut off and roads were left impassable, leaving the city isolated. [16], The flood struck the city with little to no warning, catching all those in its path off-guard. Rivers along the coastral stretched overflowed. Thelma ultimately succumbed to wind shear and degraded to a tropical depression. Still, the waters kept going up so we all had to climb to the roof. [13] Two United States Air Force AC-130s from Subic bay naval base flew to Cebu carrying ready-to-eat meals. When the waters receded, it left behind sediment, 2 feet deep. 1991 Flash Flood Buntag sa pitsa 5 Nobyembre 1991, ang Ormoc na-igo sa unos nga gi-nganlan ug Uring. The emergency phase of assistance ended on November 29 and coordination of disaster relief was returned to the Philippines. Residential and commercial areas were also set up along reclaimed embankments that restricted river flow. [9], Striking the nation as a weak tropical storm, winds from Thelma gusted up to 95 km/h (60 mph) in Tacloban;[10] these winds caused no known damage. Even months after the storm, bodies were occasionally discovered, some found in drainage systems. The flash-flood tragedy in Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines on November 5, 1991 caused the death of about 5,000 people. Ormoc Lodge No. Now moving westward, the depression eventually made its final landfall over the Mekong River Delta in Southern Vietnam on November 8. By that time, national aid to Ormoc reached $1.1 million, with more than half coming from a presidential grant. When you hear about the city of Ormoc, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? In the morning of November 5, 1991, Typhoon Uring (international name:Thelma) dumped heavy rains as it moved slowly over Leyte, including the Ormoc watershed. ", "It looked like it was a Nazi [death] camp. As a result, the tremendous rains that occurred just prior to the flood, during which rainfall rates reached 167 mm (6.6 in) per hour, the land was unable to absorb a majority of the rain. A team from the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization, specializing with relief coordination and flood management, was also sent. Amateur radio reports stated that an AC-130 was able to land at a local airport but materials had to be moved by helicopter from there since roads were blocked. Typhoon Uring caused rivers to overflow, which then raged through town and caused severe damage. May 09, 2014 - 3:03 PM. In late October 1991, a tropical disturbance developed near the Caroline Islands. On November 7, 1991 tragedy struck in this city. Through the process of orographic lift, much of the Visayas received 150 mm (6 in) of rain; however, on Leyte Island there was a localized downpour that brought totals to 580.5 mm (22.85 in). [20] Residents reported hundreds of bodies floating down rivers in the area. Forming out of a tropical disturbance on November 1, 1991, several hundred kilometers north-northeast of Palau, the depression that would become Thelma tracked generally westward. ORMOC CITY, Leyte -- Officials and residents of Ormoc City gathered on Tuesday for the 28th commemoration of the 1991 flash flood that killed about 8,000 people.Highlighting the commemoration was a walk from city hall to Anilao River and to the mass grave where the victims were buried. However, I'm sure people have not forgotten. [24] These centers were only able to operate in daylight though due to a lack of fuel and transportation. More than 150 mm (6 in) of rain across much of the Visayas, resulting in widespread flooding.

It was 2:00pm when we learned that the whole city was drowned and was almost covered by mud. ORMOC DRRMO. Merlita Matugina remembers watching in horror as the flash floods took her 7 year-old son Carmelito, while she held as tight as she could to her 5 year-old and 3-year old. Some 3,000 people were injured and about 2,500 were reported missing after the floods. This water flowed into the Anilao and Malbasag rivers, located north of Ormoc. On November 5, 1991, Tropical Storm Uring ravaged Leyte– an incident which is known today as the “Ormoc Tragedy.” The storm buried the eastern and western plains of the province in water, sediments and debris. [nb 1] Initially, it took over 24 hours for word of the disaster to reach officials due to a crippled communication network around Ormoc City. [15] This water flowed into the Anilao and Malbasag rivers, located north of Ormoc. But perhaps we are bless. Hours before … Additionally, its barometric pressure reached 992 mbar (hPa; 29.29 inHg). The municipal local government units began reforestation projects after the 1991 tragedy. ALmost exactly two decades ago, a flash flood ripped through a small town called Ormoc in Leyte. [22], Due to the catastrophic loss of life caused by the storm, the name Thelma was retired and replaced with Teresa. Of this, approximately 500 mm (20 in) fell during a three-hour span around noon local time on November 5. The first shipment of relief supplies, consisting of food rations, rice, sardines, and used clothing, was to be shipped from Cebu later that day. [4] Due to the cyclone's proximity to the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also monitored the storm and assigned it with the local name Uring. [25] As decomposition set in, residents stated that "[the] putrid smell was unbearable." [5] Following a satellite-derived surface wind estimate of 45 km/h (30 mph) later that day, the JTWC also began monitoring the low as a tropical depression. [8], Tropical Storm Thelma struck the Philippines just five months after the Ultra-Plinian eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Ormoc used to be known as "Ugmok." [4] Over the next couple of days the system weakened into an area of low pressure as it moved westwards, before it moved into the Andaman Sea during November 10. A survivor described the initial event as a gigantic wave crashing over the banks and flooding the city. The Red Cross appealed for $418,000 to support 15,000 families for one month. [15], Ormoc City itself is located in a flood-prone area, with the Anilao and Malbasag rivers converging just north of the city and taking a 90-degree turn towards the bay. ORMOC CITY, Philippines—A monument set atop the mass grave of the victims of the Ormoc flashflood was inaugurated Saturday during the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the tragic event. [20] Another resettlement project for 700 families was planned at the cost of $1 million. In addition to the natural dangers of the river, poorly designed structures on the river made conditions worse. On the morning of November 5, 1991, Typhoon Uring (international name Thelma) bore down on Leyte, wreaking havoc and burying the eastern and western plains of the province in water, sediment, and debris. [24] A Philippine Navy vessel set out with heavy earth-moving machinery and the Philippine Air Force deployed aircraft to assist in rescue efforts. THE PHILIPPINES IN 1991 141 The second major disaster occurred November 5 in Ormoc on the south-ern island of Leyte, where flash floods caused by tropical storm Uring claimed 8,000 lives. The majority of fatalities took place along the banks of the river, with most drowning or being buried in mud or debris. Additionally, its barometric pressure reached 992 mbar (hPa; 29.29 inHg). The majority of this land was improperly cultivated since the 1970s, making conditions worse than they normally would have been. While illegal logging and deforestation were to blame for the landslides, geographic conditions in the area also had to be considered. Nov 05, 2014 - 9:12 PM. Additionally, squatters were allowed to live along the banks of the Anilao river in an area called Isle Verde.