As 2013 has come to an end it is time to look back at the major disasters that have occurred over the year.
Typhoon Haiyan
Typhoon Haiyan made landfall on Friday 8th November 2013. With winds of 195mph (314 km/h), the category 5 storm was the strongest to ever make landfall in recorded history in the world. A storm surge of 5m was recorded on the islands of Leyte and Samar in central Philippines.
12 million people were at risk and thousands were evacuated into shelters around 20 provinces including areas which are prone to landslides and flooding. Victims that were staying in temporary shelters after the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Bohol were also evacuated.
Schools and offices were closed, flights suspended and the military and hospitals were put on standby in preparation of the storm in the Philippines. The intense winds caused devastation as it made its way through the Philippines. Roofs and trees were ripped off, power lines cut, phone lines lost and roads flooded. The full extent of the impact was devastating. Entire villages were flattened in some areas with no structures standing.
Haiyan lost its strength on Saturday before moving towards the South China Sea on Sunday.
More than 9 million people were affected by Typhoon Haiyan and thousands more displaced. Survivors were struggling to find food and water before aid could make its way to them. An international relief effort took place to help the victims.
Aid workers had to struggle to reach some of the worse hit areas due to destroyed communication and infrastructure. 6000 were killed by Haiyan. After the immediate aftermath of the disasters, rumours spread of death tolls being as high as 10,000.
Haiyan was the 20th typhoon to strike the country during the typhoon season.
The impact in Philippines was catastrophic. Relief effort and reconstruction is still underway in the country.
Cyclone 034, Somalia
Over 150 people were killed in Somalia after a tropical cyclone made landfall on Saturday 9th November. Entire villages were destroyed. The tropical cyclone known as 03A was the deadliest cyclone to hit the country. An estimated 100,000 livestock were lost and electricity and communication lines damaged. According to reports the number of dead could have been 300. A state of emergency was declared.
Cyclone Phailian
22 people were killed after cyclone Phailian struck Orissa and Andhra Pradesh on the eastern coast of India on Saturday 12th October. The cyclone made landfall with winds of 200 km per hour (125mph), defining it as a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. It was the strongest cyclone to hit India in 14 years.
Nearly a million people were evacuated by authorities before Phailian made landfall, saving thousands of lives for what could have been a major disaster. The evacuation is known to be the biggest of its scale in Indian history.
Power and communication lines were damaged, roads and rail links were left inaccessible and an estimated 5000 sq km of crops were destroyed causing damage of £220 million.
Half a million people were made homeless after the cyclone destroyed their homes and inundated the villages with flood water. Reports claim a storm surge of over 3 metres high flooded coastal districts.
Better preparedness and awareness after the deadly cyclone which killed nearly 10,000 people in 1999 saved thousands of lives this time round.
Cyclone Cleoptra
18 people were killed by cyclone Cleoptra when it struck Sardinia on 19th November. The storm caused extensive damage on the island. Widespread flooding also occurred due to the heavy rainfall.
Mid-west tornadoes
8 people were killed in the US when tornadoes swept through the Midwest on Sunday 17th November.
There were over 80 sightings of tornadoes, some of which may have been reported more than once. Over 10 States were at risk when the fast moving storms made their way through the Midwest. 6 of those killed were in Illinois and 2 in Michigan. Extensive damage has been caused in Washington and Illinois in particular. Although rare at this time of the year, storms such as these and tornadoes do occur.
There were over 80 sightings of tornadoes, some of which may have been reported more than once. Over 10 States were at risk when the fast moving storms made their way through the Midwest. 6 of those killed were in Illinois and 2 in Michigan. Extensive damage has been caused in Washington and Illinois in particular. Although rare at this time of the year, storms such as these and tornadoes do occur.
Magnitude 7.1 earthquake Philippines
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Philippines on Tuesday 15th October 2013. According to the USGS the earthquake was located 2km north-east of Catigbian and had a depth of 12.4 miles (20km).
222 deaths were reported and 350,000 were displaced. The earthquake caused extensive damage in Bohol and the Cebu province. 73,000 buildings were damaged or collapsed and infrastructures such as roads and bridges were also damaged. Numerous large aftershocks followed on from the earthquake. The earthquake struck just 3 weeks before Typhoon Haiyan caused devastation.
Magnitude 5.9 earthquake, China
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake, with a shallow depth of 9.8 km (6.1miles) struck the south central Gansu Province in China. The earthquake was located 13 km east of the city of Chabu. 75 people were killed and over 400 injured. Over 5600 houses were damaged and 380 have collapsed in the Zhangxian County alone. Homes had been left without power and means of communication. The earthquake also caused landslides. The earthquake caused a loss of £21 million.
UK Storm
Winds of up to 105 mph affected much of the UK on 5th December. 2 people were killed.
100,000 homes were left without power in Scotland and 6500 in Northern Island. Gale force winds caused travel disruption, with trains and planes being cancelled or delayed and authorities warning travellers to stay of the roads due to trees topping over.
The combination of high tides and strong winds made coastal flooding from storm surge a high risk. Storm surge were reported to be the worst in 60 years; some which were higher than the 1953 event.
The Environment Agency issued numerous Flood Alerts, Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings and sent over 160,000 warnings to homes and businesses. Over 800,000 properties were protected from flooding by defences along the coasts. 1400 properties were flooded. The Thames Barrier closed in order to protect London from coastal flooding.
Severe Flood Warnings are only issued in extreme situations when there is danger to life. Flood Warnings are issued to warn the public when flooding is expected and immediate action is required. Flood Alerts are issued when flooding is possible and advises the public to be prepared and think about appropriate measures to take. The images below show the 3 codes that are issued by the Environment Agency.
Homes were evacuated in coastal areas. 2500 homes in Jaywick near Clapton-on-Sea, Essex were evacuated. 600 homes were evacuated in Norfolk and police visited up to 9000 properties to advice on evacuation measures.
A good review, but you've omitted the Solomon Islands tsunami on February 6 that cost 13 lives.
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