Simulated Exercise: Typhoon Disaster Scenario

“In the early morning of 27 August 2008, Typhoon “X” with a velocity of 140 km/hour landed at Muang District, Rayong, an industrial and coastal province in Thailand. The typhoon caused heavy damage to houses, public buildings and facilities, cargo ships and fishing boats. It also damaged electricity poles, triggering a power shortage in the province. Moreover, it caused two chemical gas tanks and pipe racks in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate to explode, resulting in a high number of fatalities and injuries as well as damage to the environment. Typhoon “X” also caused houses and buildings in nearby provinces to collapse. The national government, directed by National Crisis Management Center (NCMC), responded swiftly to the disaster. A state of disaster was declared by the Prime Minister. In view of the overwhelming need for fire fighting capacity, and search and rescue and relief assistance, the NCMC of the affected country requested for assistance from ASEAN countries, and relevant UN and international organisations through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance. ASEAN Member States responded swiftly by mobilising their disaster response assets, including search and rescue, medical and fire fighting teams. Other local and international organisations also joined hands in the operation. ”