Day: September 6, 2021

REGIONAL SUMMARY:

 

For the thirty-fifth (35th) week of 2021, a total of 24 disasters (21 floods, 2 landslides, and 1 wind-related) affected the region. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam have reportedly been affected. Flooding caused by heavy rainfall and the overflowing rivers has been reported by Indonesia’s Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) and Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). In Malaysia, heavy rainfall has caused flooding in different states as reported by the Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA). Meanwhile in the Philippines, heavy rain due to the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone was reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Lastly, in Viet Nam, prolonged heavy rainfall caused flooding as reported by the Viet Nam Disaster Management Agency (VNDMA).

 

HIGHLIGHT:

 

According to BNPB, prolonged moderate to heavy rainfall and the overflowing of rivers across Kalimantan from 1-3 September has caused flooding in several provinces and several regencies (Seruyan, Lamandau,

Murung Raya, and Barito Utara in Central Kalimantan; Melawi in West Kalimantan; Samarinda in East Kalimantan). In total, 12K families (23K persons) have been affected in Kalimantan. Reports of damages include 11 schools, 7 health facilities, 12 places of worship, and 6 government/public facilities. Local disaster management agencies have carried out necessary actions and continue to monitor and assess the situation as some areas remain under the risk of flooding as rain and floods persist.

 

HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:

 

For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed sparse high 7-day average rainfall across the ASEAN region. Tropical Cyclone advisories have been issued by the JTWC for TD 18W (local name: Jolina) and INVEST 94W. TD 18W is moving West-Northwestward and is forecast to move parallel to the east coast of the Philippines before its landfall as a low-pressure area in Northern Luzon on 10 Sep. 94W is moving northwestward and is not seen to have direct impacts to the region.

 

GEOPHYSICAL:

 

Two (2) significant earthquakes (M≥5.0) were recorded in the region by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) and the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Volcanic activity was reported for Mount Semeru and Ibu (Alert level II) in Indonesia according to Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) and Taal Volcano (Alert Level 2), and Mount Kanlaon (Alert Level 1) according to PHIVOLCS.

 

OUTLOOK:

 

According to the ASMC, for the coming week, wetter conditions should be expected over the central and eastern Maritime Continent, most of Mainland Southeast Asia, and the Northern parts of the Philippines. Warmer temperatures should be expected over the Southern Maritime Continent. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a small chance for a very heavy rainfall event to occur in parts of Southern Mainland Southeast Asia, southern tip of the Philippines, and eastern Borneo; moderate increase in chance for parts of central and eastern Maritime Continent. There is also a moderate increase in chance for extreme hot conditions to occur in the Southern Maritime Continent. A negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has developed in the Indian Ocean, with warmer sea surface temperatures. At a seasonal timescale, negative IOD events tend to bring wetter conditions to the Southern Maritime Continent.

 

 

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

• OVERVIEW: Tropical Disturbance (TD) 18W intensified into a Tropical Storm (TS) at 1300 HRS UTC+7 and into a Severe Tropical Storm (STS) today as of 1900 HRS UTC+7 (6 September). As of 1800 HRS UTC+7, the centre of STS Conson (locally named “Jolina”) was estimated based on all available data to be 30 km East Northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (11.0°N, 126.0°E) according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
• INTENSITY: Maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the centre, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 994 hPa; Strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 150 km from the center
• MOVEMENT: Westward Northwestward at 15 km/h. STS Conson will make its first landfall over Eastern Samar – Northern Samar area tonight or tomorrow early morning, then second landfall over Catanduanes tomorrow afternoon and third over the eastern section of Central Luzon on the morning of 9 September. STS Conson will re-emerge over the West Philippine Sea by the evening of 9 September.
• Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) o No. 2 – Eastern Samar, eastern portion of Northern Samar, northeastern portion of Samar o No. 1 – Sorsogon, Albay, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, southeastern portion of Camarines Norte (Luzon); Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the rest of Samar, the rest of Northern Samar (Visayas); Dinagat Islands, Siargao, and Bucas Grande Islands (Mindanao).
• HAZARDS: Heavy rainfall – moderate to heavy rains at times intense rains over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Sorsogon. Moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region and the rest of Visayas. Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps; Severe winds – damaging gale-force winds for areas under TCWS no. 2 and strong winds for areas under TCWS no.1.
• OUTLOOK: Due to the uncertainty of the intensity forecast, intensification into typhoon is not ruled out. The highest possible TCWS that may be issued is TCWS no. 3. (PAGASA).
• FORECAST: STS Conson is forecast to slightly intensify until the morning of Thursday. It is seen to slightly weaken as it moves over the rugged terrain of Northern-Central Luzon area and may intensify into a typhoon by Saturday while moving over the West Philippine Sea (PAGASA).
• EXPOSURE: It is estimated that 145,196 people, 27,395 households, and $528 million (USD) worth of infrastructure are potentially exposed to MODERATE to SEVERE damaging winds (with damages expected closer to the shore) (PDC-Global).
• The AHA Centre will continue to monitor for further developments and issue necessary updates.

 

 

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

The Police are investigating 15 persons, aged between 21 and 30, for alleged non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

On 23 June 2020, at about 2.25am, the Police received a report informing that there were people entering and exiting a pub located along Serangoon Garden Way. When officers arrived, they found 15 subjects allegedly gathering in the pub.

Investigations revealed that the pub was not in operation at that time and was purportedly used for a private gathering between the 15 persons. According to Regulation 6(1) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 on the prohibition of social gatherings, an individual must not gather with any other individual outside of the individual’s ordinary place of residence for a purpose that is not performing work in a cohort that consists of more than five people.

Thirteen persons, aged between 21 and 30, will be charged in court on 6 September 2021 with Regulation 6(1) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, which is an offence punishable under Section 34(7)(a) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020. The offence carries a fine not exceeding $10,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding six months, or both.

Investigations into the remaining two persons, aged 26 and 30, are ongoing.

Members of the public are advised to take the prevailing safe distancing measures seriously.

 

 

Source: Singapore Police Force

The Police have continued to see an increase in non-banking related phishing scams involving spoofed e-mails, text messages and false advertisements relating to parcel deliveries and cheap deals. Since August 2021, more than 93 victims had fallen prey to such scams, with losses amounting to at least $140,000.

 

The victims of such phishing scams would receive spoofed emails or text messages purportedly sent from delivery companies such as SingPost and DHL. These phishing emails and text messages would usually prompt the victims to check on the status of their parcel deliveries by clicking on the link included in the emails and text messages. In some cases, the victims would receive pop-up advertisements offering cheap deals on food and household items. Upon clicking on the advertisements or links, the victims would be redirected to fraudulent websites where they would be required to provide their credit/debit card details and a One-Time Password (OTP). Most of the victims only realised that they had been scammed when they discovered unauthorised transactions made using their credit/debit cards.

 

Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

 

Do not click on links provided in unsolicited emails and text messages.

 

If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Purchase only from reputable sources, especially for high-value items.

 

Always verify the authenticity of the information with the official website or sources.

 

Contact your card issuing bank immediately if you receive an OTP and did not make any online transactions.

 

Always verify the merchant details indicated in the OTP text message/notification before providing your OTP. Do not key or input your OTP on any payment pages if you are not making

the transaction.

 

Never disclose your personal or Internet banking details and OTP to anyone.

 

Report any fraudulent credit/debit card charges to your bank and cancel your card immediately.

If you have information related to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. Please dial ‘999’ if you require urgent Police assistance.

 

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim.

 

 

Source: Singapore Police Force