OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Fiji - Floods 13 December 2000
6-13 December 2000 The following information was provided by the Fiji National Disaster Management Centre (DISMAC) through the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor for the Pacific. Situation and Damage 1. A tropical depression traversed across the Fiji Islands from the Northeast to the Southwest from 6 to 12 December, causing gusty winds, thunderstorms and bands of continuous heavy rain across the main island of Viti Levu. The downpours and run-off caused rivers to burst their banks and flood low-lying areas, but this had completely receded in most areas by 13 December. In Western Division, roads, bridges and sugar cane mills were closed in Ba, Lautoka and Rakiraki Districts. Water and power supplies were also affected in parts of Tavua and Ra. In Central Division roads and bridges were submerged in Korovou and Vunidawa by up to 3.5 m of water and power was disrupted in Korovou. 2. A 60 year old man and a 16 year old boy were drowned in separate incidents on 10 and 11 December. Two more persons were reported missing at sea since 12 December, and they are still not located. A number of people also received minor injuries. 3. Damage has been sustained by infrastructure including access roads and bridges, and power and water supplies have been disrupted in some areas. Some minor landslides have occurred, and root crops and other vegetables have been damaged, but most of the sugar crop has already been harvested. National and International Response 4. District and Divisional disaster management centres were mobilised to manage the response, and relief rations were provided to those in need from existing resources at these levels of government. Evacuation centres were prepared in a number of locations although they were not ultimately needed. The police lent assistance to those whose homes had been flooded, and helped farmers to move livestock to safe ground. DISMAC monitored the overall situation and issued area warnings, which were broadcast on the main radio stations at regular intervals throughout the period. 5. No state of emergency was declared by the authorities, and they have not made any request for international assistance to date. A loss and damage assessment is currently underway. Preliminary reports indicate that damage to infrastructure is relatively light, but this will not be confirmed until field surveys are completed by district administrations and line ministries. 6. OCHA is in contact with Fiji DISMAC through the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor for the Pacific, and will revert with further information if the situation unexpectedly worsens. 7. This situation report, together with information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34 Press contact: (GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (NYC) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -