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Fiji - Cyclonic Storms (Pacific Region) Jan 1985 UNDRO Information Reports 1-3

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Fiji
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UN DHA
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UNDRO 85/0151
FIJI - CYCLONIC STORMS (PACIFIC REGION)
INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
18 JANUARY 1985

1. VARIOUS REPORTS, INCLUDING INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT CO-ORDINATOR (FIJI) INFORM OF SERIOUS DAMAGE ARISING FROM CYCLONE ERIC HAVING BEEN INFLICTED ON VITI LEVU (FIJI). EXTENSIVE WIND DAMAGE TO HOUSING AND CROPS. DEATH TOLL REPORTED BY UNDRO/UNDP RESREP UPTO NOON 18 JANUARY HAS RISEN TO 16 PERSONS WITH MANY MISSNG AT SEA. MAIN AIRPORT CLOSED.

2. ELECTRICITY BREAKDOWNS WITH ASSOCIATED COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES BETWEEN VITI LEVU CENTRES OCCURRED. MORE DETAILS EXPECTED SHORTLY. GOVERNMENT CO-ORDINATION MEETING EXPECTED TO BE HELD 19 JANUARY AT 0800 HRS WITH EMPHASIS ON PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. POSSIBLE REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE ENVISAGED.

3. TWO FURTHER CYCLONES (NIGEL, ODETTE), HEADING IN GENERAL DIRECTION TAKEN BY CYCLONE ERIC. SATELLITE WEATHER BULLETIN 18 JAN 0300 HRS REPORTS NIGEL MAGNITUDE 4.5 (MAX WINDS APPROX 140 KPH). THESE EVENTS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED BY WEATHER CENTRES AND UNDRO CO-ORDINATION CENTRE, GENEVA GIVEN THEIR POTENTIAL SERIOUSNESS IN WAKE OF DAMAGE INFLICTED BY ERIC.

4. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TRANSMITTED ON RECEIPT.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/0153

FIJI - CYCLONIC STORMS (PACIFIC REGION)
INFORMATION REPORT NO. 2
19 JANUARY 1985

1. CYCLONE ERIC

(A) ERIC OUT OF FIJI AREAS BUT HIT TONGATAPU AND EVA ISLANDS OF TONGA 18/19 JANUARY. DAMAGE IN TONGA NOT EXTENSIVE, HALF BANANA CROP ESTIMATED LOST AS WELL AS GREEN COCONUT. NO REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.

(B) ERIC'S THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES IN FIJI NOT YET ASSESSED BY GOVERNMENT DUE TO ARRIVAL OF CYCLONE NIGEL. DEATH TOLL 19 PLUS 5 MISSING. 3,000 EVACUATED IN WESTERN VITI LEVU. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST TELEPHONE NETWORK US DLRS 700,000. ELECTRICITY CUT OFF SINCE EVENING 17 JANUARY. EMERGENCY FOOD AND MEDICINE DISTRIBUTION STARTED BY GOVERNMENT. OFFICIAL REQUEST EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK WHEN REQUIREMENTS KNOWN.

AERIAL SURVEY OF FIJI BY NEW ZEALAND AIRCRAFT REVEALED SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE IN NADI-LAUTOKA AREA OF VITI LEVU AND MAMANUCA ISLAND AND SOUTH YASAWA ISLAND GROUPS. A REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER AND WATER CONTAINERS HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.

2. CYCLONE NIGEL

NIGEL WHICH IS STRONGER THAN ERIC AND STILL INTENSIFYING EXPECTED TO STRIKE FIJI AT 1800 HRS ON 19 JANUARY AND IS FOLLOWING PRECISELY THE SAME PATH AS ERIC. FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE STATED THAT ERIC WOULD HIT SUVA, THE CAPITAL OF FIJI.

3. CYCLONE ODETTE

ODETTE LAST REPORTED WITH WINDS INCREASING AND IS EXPECTED OFF VILA IN VANUATU 0500 HRS, 21 JANUARY.

4. (A) STAFF OF AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS ON STAND BY TO ASSIST FIJI RED CROSS IF REQUESTED.

(B) UNDRO MAINTAINING DAILY CONTACTS WITH UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER GOVERNMENT WISHES TO LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL APPEAL AND TO OBTAIN UNDRO'S EMER- GENCY GRANT.

5. CONTRIBUTIONS

- US GOVERNMENT: FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF NEEDS US DLRS 25,000

- AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SENDING TWO C130 AIRCRAFTS ON 20 JAN WITH SHELTHER EQUIPMENT TO FIJI.

6. DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY, PREFERABLY BY TELEX (28148 UNDR CH), OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUE.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/0155

FIJI - CYCLONIC STORMS (PACIFIC REGION)
INFORMATION REPORT NO. 3
20 JANUARY 1985

1. FIJI - CYCLONES ERIC - NIGEL - ODETTE

(A) UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN FIJI INFORMED THAT CYCLONE NIGEL HAS STRUCK NORTH OF SUVA ON SATURDAY 19 JANUARY AT 1900 HRS AND LASTED THREE HOURS. ITS STRENGTH REPORTED SLIGHTLY BELOW ERIC AND ITS DESTRUCTIVE ZONE MUCH NARROWER.

(B) SEVERAL BRIDGES AND STRETCHES OF ROAD ARE UNDERWATER. 7,000 HOUSES ARE PARTLY OR TOTALLY DAMAGED. TOTAL DAMAGE TO HOUSES AMOUNTS TO US DRLS 51 MILLION.

(C) THE AIRPORT IS OPENED ONLY DURING DAYTIME. DAMAGE AT AIRPORT AMOUNTS TO US DLRS 1 MILLION. THE ELECTRICITY IS CUT OFF IN MOST PARTS OF THE ISLAND AND WILL BE RESTORED IN TWO WEEKS.

(D) LATEST FORECAST FOR CYCLONE ODETTE IS IT WILL MOVE FURTHER SOUTHEAST AND PASS CLEAR OF VANUATU AND FIJI.

2. VANUATU - CYCLONES ERIC AND NIGEL

(A) ISLAND OF ESPIRITU SANTO REPORTED TO HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASUALTIES. CURRENTLY ONLY LIMITED TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES AVAILABLE.

(B) A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FROM VANUATU GOVERNMENT. ALTHOUGH PRECISE DETAILS UNCLEAR, REQUIREMENTS APPEAR TO BE TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR 5,000 PEOPLE, FOOD (RICE, HIGH PROTEIN BISCUITS) AND SANITATION EQUIPMENT (PURIFICATION TABS, WATER PROCESS- ING PLANT).

3. CONTRIBUTIONS

UNITED KINGDOM: US DLRS 62,000 FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES

AUSTRALIA:
(A) 1,000 TARPAULINS AND HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC SHEETINGS
(B) ENGINEER RECON TEAM

4. DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY, PREFERABLY BY TELEX (28148 UNDR CH), OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUE.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148