DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE

ER 311 Disaster Response

A CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

Typhoon Uring: The Ormoc Tragedy, 1991

Submitted to:

Ms. Maybelyn Torrejas Arcenio

Submitted by:

Abes, James Fernan

Balon, Marielle Shania

Efren, Zed

Manigo, Gea

Origenes, Judyann

Pande, Evelyn

Sarno, James Carlo

Segovia, Arnie

Bachelor of Science in Disaster Resiliency and Management 3-G

November 2024
 I. INTRODUCTION

The 1991 Pacific typhoon season was marked by intense cyclonic activity,

with Typhoon Uring being one of the strongest and most destructive storms to hit the

Philippines. Forming on November 2, 1991, Uring rapidly intensified into a super

typhoon, fueled by warm ocean waters and favorable atmospheric conditions.

Typhoon Thelma, also known as Super Typhoon Uring, was a devastating

tropical cyclone that wreaked havoc on the Philippines from November 4-6, 1991.

This powerful storm made landfall in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Ormoc City,

Leyte, causing unprecedented destruction and loss of life. With sustained winds of

up to 260 km/h (160 mph) and heavy rainfall, Typhoon Uring triggered flash flooding,

landslides, and widespread devastation, forever etching its name in the annals of

Philippine disaster history(ReliefWeb, 1992).

Over the span of 3 hours of massive rain, it had caused landslides on the

mountain range as it washed away huge logs, and many properties were devastated,

killing more than 5,000 people others were injured and many people were reportedly

missing by tremendous flashflood, especially in Isla Verde, the heavily populated

area which was located near the city proper. The flooding is considered to be the

worst to have occurred in the Philippines in 7 years. Up to 3 m of soil-laden

floodwater submerged Ormoc City and outlying towns. Coastal area residents were

caught without warning. As a consequence, the Philippines Atmospheric

Geophysical and Astronomic Administration(PAGASA) removed the name ‘Uring’

from the list of names of typhoons here in the Philippines.

DISASTER

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. After turning southwestward in response to a cold front, the system

intensified into a tropical storm on November 4 as it approached the Philippines.

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). Despite moving over land, the system

weakened only slightly, emerging over the South China Sea on November 6 while

retaining gale-force winds. Driven by illegal logging, deforestation, and

overpopulation the City of Ormoc suffered great consequences and destruction from

the typhoon.

Typhoon Uring storm structure

and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor evaporates

into the atmosphere, it becomes fuel for more powerful storms. More heat in the

atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind

speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations not usually

subjected to the power of the sea and the erosive forces of waves and currents.

III. IMPACTS

SOCIAL IMPACTS

The flash flood caused by Typhoon Uring on November 5, 1991, remains one

of the most devastating natural disasters in Philippine history. The calamity led to the

loss of more than 5,000 lives, with approximately 3,000 people reported missing.

Thousands of families were displaced as floodwaters surged through Ormoc City,

destroying homes, livelihoods, and communities. Many families have been displaced

and human casualties are high, with to-go families and individual surfers greater

loss. scale of the disaster highlighted the vulnerability of Ormoc City to extreme

weather events.

Category Number

Total Deaths 5,000 +

Missing Persons 2, 500 +

Injuries At least 3000

Displaced Population 50,000

Total Damaged Houses 22,229

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The typhoon caused significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and

private property, with losses amounting to over PhP 620 million (approximately

US$12 million in 1991). The agricultural sector, a critical component of Leyte’s

economy, was decimated as farmlands were inundated and crops destroyed. The

destruction of homes, roads, and utilities further disrupted economic activities,

leaving thousands without livelihoods. Recovery efforts involved substantial financial

support from government and international organizations, including a flood control

and reforestation initiative by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

These measures aimed to rebuild the affected areas and mitigate future disasters,

but the economic strain of recovery lingered for years.

Category Estimated Loss

Total Economic Loss 620 million (approximately

Damage to Agriculture Included in the total loss

Damage to Infrastructure Included in the total loss

Damage to Private Property Included in the total loss

The environmental consequences of Typhoon Thelma were far-reaching, as

the intense rainfall not only caused widespread flooding but also triggered numerous

landslides that buried entire villages in the provinces of Leyte and Samar. These

landslides destroyed farmlands and homes, further complicating recovery efforts.

The destruction of the natural landscape, including the loss of forests and the

devastation of river systems, led to long-term environmental damage. The landslides

exacerbated flooding in low-lying areas, sweeping away homes, vegetation, and

vehicles. Soil erosion reduced agricultural productivity, and entire ecosystems were

disrupted, with significant damage to vegetation and wildlife habitats. Environmental

degradation from the disaster increased the risk of further landslides and long-term

harm to the region’s natural resources.

IV. RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

The typhoon greatly damaged and impacted the society, economy, and

environment in Ormoc City. Apart from the typhoon, the government hastened the

relief and response operation, as Mt. Pinatubo erupted 5 months before the incident

occurred. Initially, it took more than 24 hours for word of the level of devastation to

reach officials in Manila as communications across Leyte were largely destroyed.

The first shipment of relief supplies, consisting of food rations, rice, sardines, and

used clothing, was to be shipped from Cebu later that day.

Philippine Air Force deployed aircraft to assist in rescue efforts. A lack of clear roads

and fuel hampered relief efforts in Ormoc City. Relief efforts were also hampered by

continuing rains and the rough terrain of the affected region, approximately 8,300

families had been rescued and another 7,521 were evacuated from affected areas.

Supply distribution centers were established in Ormoc, providing residents with food,

water, and materials, by November 11. Medical and sanitation teams were deployed

throughout the province, with many coming from surrounding areas. The emergency

phase of assistance ended on November 29 and coordination of disaster relief was

returned to the Philippines.

The Mayor leads the drive towards the reconstruction of Ormoc City including

reforestation, resettlement facilities, drainage, water & lighting facilities. Flood

mitigation project was implemented with the assistance of Japan International

Corporation Agency (JICA) to address the threat of floods in the city. Despite the

tragedy, the city has shown a speedy, steady progress and stability. Investors were

coming into the city and have embarked on modernization, a wonderful place to visit

for pleasure.

V. CONCLUSION

The remnants of the 1991 Tragedy still linger with the residents of Ormoc City,

the tragedy was far too brutal and caused irreversible damage in the City. The

Ormoc disaster was one of the earliest signs of the times, an event that

foreshadowed the kind of disaster events that are now part of the new normal.
 Ormoc revealed that Philippine society still had so much to learn and

understand about natural hazards, the landscape within which these hazards occur,

and how to prepare for and cope with the aftermath of such events.
 REFERENCES

Francisco, K. (2016, November 5). LOOK BACK: The 1991 flash flood that

devastated Ormoc City. Rappler.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/151178-look-back-1991-flash-flood-ormoc/?fbcli

d=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1u6AEMGwKhm8jX3WxIkQ2P8vybk5krw6Oz8ni4VfY

pdOT9T06zeWGbtG4_aem_lOU5RKKdsY12Ovo49hrJfA

Learning from disaster: From Uring to Yolanda, From disaster preparedness to

understanding risk. (2017, March 23). Institute of Environmental Science for Social

Change. https://essc.org.ph/content/archives/9210

Reconnaissance Report: Flooding resulting from Typhoon Uring in Ormoc city, Leyte

province, the Philippines (June 1992). (n.d.). ReliefWeb. Retrieved November 20,

2024, from

https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/reconnaissance-report-flooding-resulting-typho

on-uring-ormoc-city-leyte-province-philippines-june-1992?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0C

MTEAAR0i8L95tQ7NtRixLfCQRmR1gqH0A4OW18SAGX3bab9jJ1HmlQeTNyRDum

E_aem_ukSurzHRB9fmXwKZQCGO9w

City Government of Ormoc. (2018). Tragedies: Ormoc flash flood. Ormoc Cultural
Mapping Digital Library.
https://ormoc.gov.ph/culturalmapping/tragedies-detail.php?s=19