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Venezuela Tropical Storm Aug 1993 UNDHA Information Reports 1 - 2

Countries
Venezuela
Sources
UN DHA
Publication date


DHA-GENEVA 93/0310

TROPICAL STORM BRET - VENEZUELA
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
9 AUGUST 1993

SITUATION

1. ON 8 AUGUST 1993 TROPICAL STORM BRET BATTERED VENEZUELA WITH FIERCE RAINS AND WINDS OF UP TO 95 KPH (60 MPH) CAUSING MUDSLIDES AND FLOODS WHICH CARRIED AWAY HOUSES AND RIPPING ROOFS FROM OTHERS IN THE CAPITAL CARACAS, OUTLYING SHANTY TOWN SUBURBS AND NEARBY MIRANDA AND ARAGUA STATES.

IMPACT

2. THE PROVISIONAL DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 99 AND IS EXPECTED TO RISE AS MORE VICTIMS ARE EXTRACTED FROM THE RUBBLE AND INITIAL REPORTS GIVE 400 INJURED, WITH 4,000 HOMELESS.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

3. NATIONAL CIVIL DEFENCE AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES WERE IMMEDIATELY MOBILIZED AND ARE WORKING, TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTEERS, TO ASSIST THE VICTIMS.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

4. DHA IN CONTACT WITH PERMANENT MISSION OF VENEZUELA IN GENEVA AND UNDP/DHA REPRESENTATIVE IN CARACAS. WILL REVERT WITH FURTHER INFORMATION AS SOON AS AVAILABLE.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-GENEVA +

TELEPHONE NO. +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: J. DE RIVERO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3513
PRESS TO CONTACT DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: MS. SKANDRANI,
DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA


DHA-GENEVA 93/0314

TROPICAL STORM BRET - VENEZUELA
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO 2
11 AUGUST 1993

SITUATION

1. TROPICAL STORM BRET, WHICH HAD WEAKENED IN COLOMBIA, GAINED STRENGTH AGAIN AND HIT COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA WITH HEAVY RAINFALL AND HIGH WINDS ON TUESDAY, 10 AUGUST. THOUSANDS OF COASTAL DWELLERS WERE EVACUATED.

2. IN VENEZUELA, AFFECTED BY THE STORM AT THE WEEKEND, RELIEF EFFORTS WERE GRADUALLY MOVING INTO THE REHABILITATION PHASE AND FOCUSSING ON THE DIFFICULT TASK OF RELOCATION OF THE DISASTER-AFFECTED POPULATION.

3. METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS INDICATE THAT ADDITIONAL RAINFALL, NORMAL DURING THIS PERIOD OF THE YEAR IS FORECAST FOR CARACAS. THIS PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE IN SOME SECTORS OF THE CITY DUE TO ALREADY SATURATED SOIL.

4. CIVIL DEFENCE REPORTS TO DATE A DEATH TOLL OF APPROXIMATELY 100, INCLUDING 75 PERSONS IN CARACAS, 19 IN MIRANDA STATE AND 3 IN ARAGUA STATE. APPROXIMATELY 3,500 PERSONS LEFT HOMELESS IN CARACAS AND 2,000 IN THE OTHER EIGHT STATES MOST AFFECTED BY THE STORM ARE BEING GIVEN TEMPORARY SHELTER IN MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. TELEPHONE LINES ARE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY IN CARACAS AND AIR TRAFFIC HAS BEEN REESTABLISHED. MUDSLIDES HAVE INTERRUPTED SECTORS OF PANAMERICAN AND COTA 905 HIGHWAYS.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICIALS, VOLUNTEERS, VENEZUELAN RED CROSS AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE ASSISTING SURVIVORS. THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE ACTIVATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN OF VACCINATION TO AVOID EPIDEMICS.

6. NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE STRUCTURES HAVE RESPONDED WELL AND HAVE THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT UNDER CONTROL.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

7. UNDP/DHA REPRESENTATIVE HAS ACTIVATED DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM AND IS MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND UN AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES.

8. UNDP IS MAKING AN EMERGENCY GRANT OF USD 50,000 AT THE REQUEST OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. UNICEF IS PROVIDING USd 15,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF ORAL REHYDRATION SALTS. FAO WILL CARRY OUT AN ANALYSIS ON CROP DAMAGE.

9. GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES HAVE INDICATED THAT CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST EMERGENCY AND REHABILITATION EFFORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. ALTHOUGH IN GENERAL IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT NEEDED, DONATIONS OF MEASLES VACCINES AND HUMAN RABIES SERUM WHICH ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY WOULD BE WELCOME.

10. THIS IS THE FINAL INFORMATION REPORT ON THIS DISASTER IN VENEZUELA UNLESS FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-GENEVA +

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917.1234
EMERGENCY TEL.NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22- 917.20.10
DESK OFFICER: J. DE RIVERO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917- 3513
PRESS TO CONTACT DHA SPOKESPERSON: MS. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114 TELEX: 414242 DHA
FAX: +41-22-917-00-23
ELECTRONIC MAIL, DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA