Ormoc tragedy

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Storm path

The Ormoc Tragedy, also known as Ormoc Flash flood tragedy, was the most devastating and deadliest tragedy struck the Philippines in modern history. On the morning of November 5, 1991, water from a heavy rainfall brought about of Tropical Storm Thelma (local name: uring) roared down from the surrounding hills carrying logs and uprooted trees, and engulfed Isla Verde and much of Ormoc City killing about 8,000 people. A flash flood swept down from the hills into Ormoc city on the western side of the island in November 1991 killing more than 8000 people

1 Storm history
2 Impact
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Storm history

A tropical disturbance developed over the eastern Caroline Islands in late October. The disturbance that would become Thelma tracked to the west-northwest, to become Tropical Depression 27W on November 1. Its convection increased as it turned westward, and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Thelma on the November 4. Thelma was originally forecast to move northward in response to a break in the subtropical ridge, but the ridge remained strong. Thelma began a west-southwest track on November 4, reaching a peak of 50 mph (80 km/h) winds before interaction with the Philippines weakened it. The storm made landfall on the island of Samar in the eastern Philippines on the November 5, continued to the west, and weakened to a 40 mph (64 km/h) tropical storm.

[edit] Impact

Thelma while nearly stationary on November 5

Tropical Storm Thelma caused around 6,000 casualties in the Philippines (estimated death toll ranges from 5,101 to over 8,000), making it the deadliest tropical cyclone in Philippine history. In addition, tens of thousands were left homeless in the aftermath of the storm. In the time Thelma crossed the Philippines, it dropped over 6 inches (150 mm) of rain in some areas, with a local maximum of 580.5 millimetres (22.85 in) falling at Tongonon Geothermal Site.^[1] The city hardest hit was Ormoc City on Leyte Island. Most of the storm's death toll occurred here. Threee-quarters of the city was destroyed in the flooding. Because of the death toll and other effects of the storm, the names Thelma and Ursing have been retired from future use.