Philippines, Spratly Islands, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar
IBTrACS
Part of the 2020 Pacific typhoon season
Typhoon Molave (Tagalog:[moˈlavɛ], mo-LAH-veh), known in the Philippines as Typhoon Quinta, was a strong tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage in the Philippines and Indochina in late October 2020, and became the strongest to strike the South Central Coast of Vietnam since Damrey in 2017. The eighteenth named storm and eighth typhoon of the annual typhoon season, Molave originated from a tropical depression that formed on October 23 east of Palau. At 15:00 UTC the next day, the depression was upgraded into Tropical Storm Molave as it drifted generally northwestward. Molave soon became a typhoon on October 25 as it turned west, shortly before making five landfalls in central Philippines. After striking the Philippines, Molave entered the South China Sea and began to re-intensify. Molave attained its peak intensity on October 27 before weakening again as it approached Vietnam. The typhoon struck Vietnam on October 28, before rapidly weakening as it headed further into Indochina. Molave later dissipated on October 30, over Myanmar.
After carving a path of destruction, 71 people have been confirmed dead and another 46 are missing from Molave. Preliminary damage is estimated at $742 million (2020 USD), though the total damage in Indochina is currently unknown.
Three tropical cyclones occurred in the western Pacific Ocean simultaneously on October 28. From left to right: Molave, Goni, and a low-pressure area which later became Atsani (at bottom-right).
On October 23, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began tracking a tropical depression approximately 190 nmi (350 km) north of Palau.[1][2] On the same day, PAGASA followed suit as the system formed inside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, east of Mindanao, and named the system Quinta.[3] On the following day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also recognized the system as a tropical depression.[4] At 15:00 UTC of the same day, the JTWC upgraded the system into a tropical storm, with the JMA and PAGASA doing the same a few hours apart from each other. Now a tropical storm, the system was named Molave by the JMA.[5][6][7] The next day, PAGASA upgraded the system into a severe tropical storm as it approached Bicol.[8] Later that day, the PAGASA then upgraded Molave into a typhoon as it headed for Albay and Camarines Sur, prompting the raising of TCWS#3 for both and adjacent provinces.[9] Shortly afterwards, the JMA also upgraded the system to a typhoon and the JTWC followed a few hours later.[10][11] At 18:10 PHT (10:10 UTC), Molave made its first landfall on the San Miguel Island in Albay, with another one in Malinao just 40 minutes later. Molave made three more landfalls in San Andres, Quezon at 22:30 PHT (14:30 UTC), Torrijos, Marinduque at 1:20 PHT October 26 (17:20 UTC), and Pola, Oriental Mindoro at 3:30 PHT (19:30 UTC).[12] Molave emerged over the South China Sea on the same day, continuing to gradually intensify as it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and drifted away from the Philippines. The state of Sabah in Malaysia was also affected by the typhoon which was reported to be at 703 kilometers off southwest Kudat, causing rough seas with waves reaching up to 3.5 m (11 ft) in the west coast of Sabah including Labuan.[13] Molave strengthened into a powerful Category 3 typhoon under relatively favorable conditions.
As the system continued westwards, the storm began to slowly weaken as it approached Vietnam. Subsequently, the storm turned slightly to the west-northwest. Molave made landfall on Quảng Ngãi province, central Vietnam at 10:10 UTC+7 (03:10 UTC), October 28 with category 2 typhoon strength.[14] The storm rapidly weakened once inland, with the JTWC issuing their final warning on the system while it still had Typhoon force winds on October 29, as the storm's convection became increasingly disorganized. The JMA continued to track the system as a Tropical Depression over Cambodia until they issued their final advisory on October 30. The storm dissipated shortly afterward, over Myanmar.
Preparations
Molave shortly before landfall in the Philippines on October 25
Albay, Batangas, Burias Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Southern Portion of Laguna, Marinduque, Northern and Central Portion of Occidental Mindoro incl. Lubang Island, Northern and Central Portion of Oriental Mindoro, Southern Portion of Quezon, Northern Portion of Romblon, Ticao Island
None
None
2
Bataan, Southern Portion of Bulacan, Cavite, Calamian Group of Islands, Rest of Laguna, Masbate, Metro Manila, Southernmost Portion of Occidental Mindoro, Southernmost Portion of Oriental Mindoro, Southern Portion of Pampanga, Polillo Islands, Rizal
Northern Samar
None
1
Southern Portion of Aurora, Rest of Bulacan, Southern Portion of Nueva Ecija, Northernmost Portion of Palawan, Rest of Pampanga, Southern Portion of Tarlac, Southern Portion of Zambales
Aklan, Northern Portion of Antique, Capiz, Northern Portion of Eastern Samar, Northeastern Portion of Iloilo, Northern Portion of Samar
None
Vietnam
Nearly 1.3 million people are expected to evacuate in Vietnam, as Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered boats onshore and advised preparations for the security forces and residents in the area. The prime minister also compared Molave to Typhoon Damrey of 2017.[21] Hundreds of flights were canceled and schools were forced to close. The federal government mobilized about 250,000 troops and 2,300 vehicles to be used for search and rescue missions.[22] Members of the Vietnamese military helped load elderly people onto evacuation buses and helped direct boats onshore. Some also helped residents put sandbags on their roof.[23] On October 27, Da Nang People's Committee had requested people to not leave their houses starting from 20:00 UTC+7 (13:00 UTC) that night and urged all officials and workers to not come into work on the next day, among other measures in preparation for the typhoon.[24]
Typhoon Molave came ashore in the Philippines on October 25 with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (81 mph) on October 25.[29] The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in the Philippines received reports of damaged roads and bridges, flooding, and landslides that same day.[30] Several villages and farmlands in the region were flooded and power lines and trees were downed, resulting in power outages affecting Albay, Sorsogon, Batangas and Cavite.[31] 120,000 people were displaced and over 1,800 workers were stranded in ports.[32][33] A state of calamity was declared early on October 27 for the city of Batangas, due to "widespread destruction and substantial damage" caused by the storm.[34]
A yacht off the coast of Batangas Province sank and 7 fishermen were rescued while 12 other fishermen on a boat were reported missing near Catanduanes.[35] Floods caused by Typhoon Saudel in Quezon just a couple of days prior were immediately worsened by Molave.[36] Molave also impacted areas still recovering from the impacts of Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy) one year earlier, causing residents to flee back to their evacuation centers.[37] Agricultural damage in Bicol reached ₱286 million (US$5.9 million). 6,671 of houses were damaged and 243 of them were totally destroyed by Molave.[38] In Oriental Mindoro, the government estimated the agricultural loss at ₱2 billion (US$41.3 million).[39] The Philippine government organized a disaster relief aid following the typhoon supplying ₱890.5 million worth of food and other items to those affected.[37] The filming of GMA Network's television drama anthology series titled Tadhana in Laiya Beach in Batangas was disrupted by a storm surge.[40]
As of November 9, the NDRRMC reported that 27 people were killed, 40 people were injured and four went missing after the typhoon.[25] Damage from infrastructure and agriculture counted to be ₱1.56 billion (US$32.2 million) and ₱2.66 billion (US$54.9 million) respectively, with a total damage of ₱4.22 billion (US$87.1 million) nationwide.[25]
Flooding of Pampanga River floodplain after Typhoon Quinta, 2020 (view from Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija bridge)
Vietnam
On October 27, the typhoon caused two Vietnamese fishing boats in the South China Sea to sink.[41] Authorities deployed search boats to search for 26 missing fishermen that were on the boats.[42]
Molave started affecting Vietnam during the evening of October 27. On the morning of October 28, the entire island of Lý Sơn and its 20,000 inhabitants lost electric power. The island was lashed with 165 km/h (103 mph) winds for hours.[43] Waves as high as 6 m (20 ft) lashed coastal areas of Vietnam.[42] Molave caused widespread destruction in Central Vietnam. Wind gusts peaking at 176 km/h (109 mph) were reported in the city of Quảng Ngãi.[43] Molave brought heavy rains; Sơn Kỳ (Quảng Ngãi) received 470 mm (19 in) over 24 hours of rainfall.[43] Immense rainfall triggered three landslides in Phước Sơn and Nam Trà My districts and buried some villages, with the recovery of at least 21 bodies under rubble. Flooding also isolated 200 workers at the Đăk Mi 2 hydroelectricity plant.[44] The typhoon and following flooding and landslides destroyed or damaged 188,759 houses and infrastructures, flooded 31,928 others and 27,970 hectas of crops.[26]
Molave killed 41 people, injured 143 and 42 others went missing.[45][46][47] Economic losses were counted as 13.27 trillion dong (US$572.9 million),[26][48] including 6.08 trillion dong (US$262.6 million) in Quảng Nam and 5 trillion dong (US$215.7 million) in Quảng Ngãi Province.[49][50]
Malaysia
On October 27, the typhoon caused the MV Dayang Topaz to swerve uncontrollably and hit the structure of a drilling platform 14 nautical miles off Miri after one of its anchor cables snapped. A rescue operation was mounted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency with the assistance from an oil company in Brunei. Two among the 187 personnel on board were killed.[27]
Thailand
On November 1, a person was reported dead from the northeastern floods.[28]
Retirement
On November 13, PAGASA announced that the name Quinta would be removed from its list of typhoon names as this typhoon caused almost ₱5 billion in damages and will never be used again as a typhoon name within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). In January 2021, the PAGASA chose the name Querubin as its replacement for the 2024 season.[51][52][53]
In the spring of 2022, the Typhoon Committee announced that the name Molave, along with four others, will be removed from the naming lists. The committee decided Molave would be replaced by Narra.[54][55][56]
Typhoon Ketsana (2009) – A deadly typhoon that affected similar areas in 2009
Typhoon Rammasun (2014) – An intense typhoon that carved a path of destruction in southern Luzon.
Typhoon Kammuri (2019) – A powerful typhoon that affected the same areas a year before
Typhoon Goni (2020) – A powerful typhoon that affected the same areas just a week after Molave
References
^"Weather Maps" (PDF). Japan Meteorological Agency. October 23, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
^"Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 23, 2020. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
^"Severe Weather Bulletin #1 on Tropical Depression 'Quinta'". PAGASA. October 23, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
^Tropical Depression 21W (Twentyone) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020. Alt URL
^Tropical Storm 21W (Twentyone) Warning No. 3 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020. Alt URL
^"Tropical Cyclone Information". Japan Meteorological Agency. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^"Severe Weather Bulletin #7 for Tropical Storm 'Quinta' (Molave)" (PDF). PAGASA. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.[dead link] Alt URL
^"Severe Weather Bulletin #9 for Severe Tropical Storm 'Quinta' (Molave)" (PDF). PAGASA. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^"Severe Weather Bulletin #11 for Typhoon 'Quinta' (Molave)" (PDF). PAGASA. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^"Tropical Cyclone Information". Japan Meteorological Agency. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^Typhoon 21W (Molave) Warning No. 7 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020. Alt URL
^"Typhoon 'Quinta' makes landfall in Pola, Oriental Mindoro". Palawan News. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^Miwil, Olivia (October 28, 2020). "Saudel and Molave pose danger to Sabah maritime community". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
^"Trực tiếp bão số 9: Molave áp sát Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi, 2 người chết". baogiaothong. October 28, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
^Dennise San Juan, Alexandria (October 24, 2020). "Phivolcs warns of possible post-eruption lahar from Mayon Volcano due to 'Quinta'". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^"Philippines evacuates nearly 1,800 as tropical storm Molave approaches". Reuters. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^"Nearly 9,000 flee homes in Philippines as Molave intensifies into typhoon". The Straits Times. Reuters. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^Go, Beatrice (October 26, 2020). "PFL to resume season opener on October 28". Rappler. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^"Football: PFL delays Sunday opening; 5 players test positive for COVID-19". ABS-CBN News. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^"#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Monday, October 26, 2020". Rappler. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^"Vietnam set to evacuate 1.3 million people as Typhoon Molave nears after lashing Philippines". scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Reuters. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^Guy, Michael (October 28, 2020). "Typhoon Molave makes landfall in Vietnam in the aftermath of deadly floods". CNN. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
^"Typhoon Molave: Vietnam villagers flee ahead of 'worst storm in 20 years'". South China Morning Post. October 27, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^Nguyễn Đông-Đắc Thành-Hoàng Phương-Việt Quốc-Xuân Ngọc (October 27, 2020). "5 địa phương đề nghị dân không ra đường tối nay". VnExpress. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^ abcJalad, Ricardo B. (November 9, 2020). "SitRep No.11 re Preparedness Measures and Effects for Typhoon QUINTA" (PDF). NDRRMC. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
^ abcVietnam November 2020 Report
^ ab"Swift action saves more than 100 lives in raging waters off Miri". Bernama. October 27, 2020. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
^ ab"34 Thai provinces affected by heavy rains and flooding, typhoon 'Goni' heads towards Vietnam". The Thaiger. November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
^"12 fishermen missing as Typhoon Molave drenches Philippines". gulfnews.com. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^"9,000 flee homes in Philippines as Molave intensifies into typhoon". Dhaka Tribune. Reuters. October 25, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^"Seven fishermen missing as Typhoon Molave drenches Philippines". Yahoo News. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^Aaron Favila (October 26, 2020). "Philippines: Typhoon Molave leaves at least 13 missing, displaces thousands". pressdemocrat.com. Associated Press, The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^News Y (October 27, 2020). "Over 1M Evacuated as Vietnam Prepares for Typhoon Molave". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^Kelly, Maura (October 27, 2020). "More than 1 million Vietnam Residents to Evacuate Ahead of Typhoon Molave". Accuweather. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^"Philippines: Typhoon leaves 13 missing, displaces thousands". KSAT. Associated Press. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^"Philippines: Typhoon Molave displaces thousands, floods villages". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^ ab"'Quinta' makes 5 landfalls before leaving landmass". Manila Bulletin. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^Luces, Niño (October 27, 2020). "At least P286.3-M in damage caused by 'Quinta' in Bicol; 8 reported missing". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
^Campos, Othel V.; Casas, Willie (October 29, 2020). "Oriental Mindoro agri damage at P2 billion; declares crisis". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
^"'Tadhana' taping location in Batangas hit by storm surge". GMA News. October 28, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
^"Hai tàu cá bị chìm do bão số 9, 26 ngư dân mất tích" (in Vietnamese). Nhân Dân. October 27, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^ ab"Typhoon Molave slams into Vietnam, dozens missing". AlJazeera. October 28, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
^ abc"Bão số 9 đi vào đất liền từ Đà Nẵng đến Phú Yên với sức gió mạnh giật cấp 15". thethaovanhoa.vn (in Vietnamese). October 28, 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
^Zhuang, Yan (October 29, 2020). "Over 60 Feared Dead After Typhoon Molave Slams into Vietnam". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
^Hau, Dinh (October 29, 2020). "Typhoon, landslides leave 35 dead, dozens missing in Vietnam". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
^"Báo cáo nhanh công tác trực ban PCTT ngày 04/11/2020". Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
^"Bão số 9: 80 người mất tích và tử vong, 134 người bị thương" (in Vietnamese). Báo Lao Động. November 1, 2020. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
^Wong, Marcus (November 1, 2020). "Vietnam Estimates Typhoon Molave Caused $430 Million of Damage". Bloomerg. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
^"Quảng Ngãi: Phân bổ 11,5 tỷ đồng để khắc phục thiệt hại bão số 9" (in Vietnamese). BaoMoi. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
^"Quảng Nam: Bão số 9 làm 28 người chết, thiệt hại hơn 6.000 tỉ đồng". Gia Lai Local News (in Vietnamese). November 14, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
^"PAGASA to retire "Ulysses" from its list of tropical cyclone names". Manila Bulletin. November 13, 2020. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
^Hallare, Katrina (January 27, 2021). "Pagasa 'retires' names given to previous devastating typhoons". Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
^Dost_pagasa (January 27, 2021). "Four tropical cyclone names from the 2020 list are now decommissioned: Ambo, Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses. They will be replaced by Aghon, Querubin, Romina, and Upang, respectively, in the 2024 list". Retrieved January 27, 2021 – via Facebook.
^"53rd Session of TC - Working Doc Page". typhooncommittee.org. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
^"Replacement Names of LINFA, VONGFONG, MOLAVE, GONI and VAMCO in the Tropical Cyclone Name List" (PDF). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
^"Tropical Cyclone Naming". public.wmo.int. May 30, 2016. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon Molave (2020).
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
