1.Typhoon XANGSANE (0615)

WRD/TC.40/2

In Thailand,

During 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007, there were 4 tropical cyclones hit Thailand including 2 typhoons “XANGSANE(0615)” and “DURIAN(0621)” in 2006, and 2 tropical depressions (TD2 and TD3) in 2007. A review of the tropical cyclones and tracks are given as the following.

1.Typhoon “XANGSANE” (0615)

A low pressure cell which originated in the western North Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines on 25th September 2006 intensified into the tropical storm, XANGSANE, on 26th September and reached the typhoon status on the following day. After moving through the Philippines, XANGSANE moved into the South China Sea and continued its westerly track towards Vietnam and made landfall in central Vietnam on 1st October. It then entered Lao P.D.R and downgraded into the tropical storm before moving into Thailand and became tropical depression and low pressure cell over the lower northeastern region of Thailand on 2nd October.

As XANGSANE moved into Thailand, very heavy rain of 100-200 mm. was reported in northeastern Thailand and flash floods were observed in several areas in upper Thailand.

2. Typhoon “DURIAN” (0621)

An area of low pressure over the western North Pacific Ocean developed into the tropical depression on 25th November 2006. It strengthened into the tropical storm “DURIAN”on 26th November and further deepened into a typhoon on 29th November before passing through the Philippines. It tracked to the South China Sea and weakened into the tropical storm on 4th December as it approached the southern Vietnam coast. Then its movement changed to southwest and moved to the southern tip of Vietnam on 5th December. This storm moved into the Gulf of Thailand and gradually weakened to be a tropical depression before making landfall over southern part of Thailand on 6th December. It continued to move to the Andaman Sea and finally downgraded into the low pressure cell on 8th December.

DURIAN brought torrential rainfall of 200 mm. and flash flood in the upper area of southern Thailand east coast. Moreover, upper Thailand received more unseasonable rain in some areas on 6th December.

3. Tropical Depression (TD2)

TD2 originated from the active low pressure cell in the upper Gulf of Thailand on 1st May 2007 before moving westward to Chumphon province on the same day. It continued to move to the Andaman Sea on the following day and turned northeastward with the center passing Myanmar on 4th May. This tropical depression moved further inland and downgraded to the low pressure cell before covering the border of Thailand and Lao P.D.R. on 5th May. But its remnants covered the mentioned area and finally dissipated over Myanmar on 7th May.

While TD2 moving through southern Thailand, it interacted with southwest monsoon producing widespread rain over the country, with isolated heavy and very heavy rainfall of 200-400 mm. during its course. Flash floods experienced in southern Thailand east coast, Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces.

4. Tropical Depression (TD3)

An active low pressure cell in the middle South China Sea upgraded to a tropical depression on 2 August 2007. It moved slowly northwestward near central Vietnam and tracked north to the Bay of Tonkin on 5th August before making landfall over northern Vietnam on 7th August. TD3 moved toward Lao P.D.R. and northeastern Thailand, Nong Kai province, on the following day. It continued to weaken as it moved westward to northern Thailand on 9th August and finally downgraded to low pressure cell over Myanmar on the same day. It caused scattered and widespread rain in Thailand especially in northeastern Thailand.

Socio-economic Assessment

Loss of lives and properties due to the tropical cyclones that hit Thailand in the past 12 months have been reported as follow:

+Typhoon Changsan (1-3 Oct. 06): 47 casualties, 2 missing and about 305,289,193 Baht of damage value of assets

+Typhoon Durian (5-7 Dec. 06): Durian brought heavy windstorm and flooding to the affected areas but no report of casualties. Schools were closed and travel by sea was prohibited

+TD2 (1-2 May. 07): about 18,485,400 Baht in damage

+TD3 (7-9 Aug. 07): 2 casualties, and about 272,757,962 Baht of damage value of assets