Cyclone Eric
Category 3 severe tropical cyclone (Aus scale) | |
---|---|
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS) | |
Formed | 12 January 1985 |
Dissipated | 20 January 1985 |
Highest winds | 10-minute sustained: 150 km/h (90 mph) 1-minute sustained: 185 km/h (115 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar); 28.2 inHg |
Fatalities | 25 |
Damage | $40 million (1985 USD) |
Areas affected | Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga |
Part of the 1984–85 South Pacific cyclone season |
Severe Tropical Cyclone Eric was one of two tropical cyclones to affect the island nations of
Meteorological history
On January 13, 1985 the
During that day Eric's eye seemed to contract to around 15 km (10 mi) as it made passed through Fiji's
Impact
Fiji
Eric was the first of two severe tropical cyclones to make landfall, on the Fijian Island of Viti Levu within 36 hours and was also the first of four tropical cyclones to impact Fiji during 1985.
Offices in Suva were closed around during the afternoon hours of January 17 local time, enabling time to let the workers prepare their houses and businesses. All ships moved out of the port of Suva and took shelter elsewhere. In addition, the Nadi airport was closed and flights were diverted away from Fiji. Residents took shelter wherever they could to survive the storm.[9]
Affecting a densely populated part of the island group,[10] Eric brought $40 million (USD) in damage and took 25 lives.[11] Extensive wind damage was reported; crop damage from Eric was also severe.[12] Over 200 mm (10 in) of rainfall fell in some places, resulting in extensive flooding. The combined systems destroyed 9,500 homes; many schools, shops and, hotels had to be rebuilt because of the storm.[9] Many recreational facilities as well as may commercial builds were also party or completely destroyed by the cyclone.[11] About 30,000 persons were reported as homeless.[13] A total of 299 farms were affecting by the storm, resulting in nearly $2 million in damage; however damage to the pine plantations was minor.[10]
Across Viti Levu, serious damage was reported. The Nadi airport was closed during the storm;[12] four days after the passage of Eric, the airport re-opened for night operations. Damage from the airport alone totaled $1 million.[13] The west part of Viti Levu as well as some other surrounding islands sustained the worst damage, though interior areas of Viti Levu suffered from severe crop damage.[10]
Other islands
Cyclone Eric was the first of three tropical cyclones to affect Vanuatu within a week, however, there was no significant damage reported after Cyclone Eric passed through the northern islands of Vanuatu.[1][14] Heavy rain associated with the system helped ease a drought in the island nation, while all 3 cyclones disrupted inter-island transport.[14] Within Tonga there was no casualties or major damage reported, however, around 80% of the banana crop was damaged while several homes and a wharf were destroyed.[15][16][17]
Aftermath
During the initial aftermath of Cyclone Eric the Fijian Government's Emergency Services Committee met regularly to coordinate relief efforts, with aerial and ground surveys of the cyclone damaged areas starting during January 18.[5] Ships were also dispatched to the outer islands, in order to deliver relief supplies and assess the damage.[5] However, the completion of these surveys had to be postponed, as Severe Tropical Cyclone Nigel made landfall on Fiji.[5] Throughout the region relief centers were set up to accommodate the homeless, before they were closed towards the end of January with victims given various shelter materials and food supplies.[5][18]
During January 22, the Fijian Government outlined their long-term rehabilitation needs and requested international assistance from the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization and other countries.[5][19] These needs included a 6-month food-rationing project for 10,000 households, a rehabilitation program for 10,000 shelters and improved internal communication including between the FMS in Nadi and the capital city Suva.[5] Administration of the relief and rehabilitation program was transferred from the Emergency Services Committee to the Prime Minister's Relief and Rehabilitation Committee on January 31.[5]
See also
References
- ^ OCLC 648466886.
- ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (1986). Annual Tropical Cyclone Report: 1985 (PDF) (Report). United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d MetService (22 May 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Joint Typhoon Warning Center; Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center (19 January 2012). "Tropical Cyclone 11P (Eric) best track analysis". United States Navy, United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fiji — Cyclones (PDF) (Disaster Case Report). United States Agency for International Development. 1985. pp. 1–7. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "Thousands left homeless, 23 dead after cyclones". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 22 January 1985. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ^ Mcgree, Simon; Yeo, Stephen W; Devi, Swastika (16 December 2010). Flooding in the Fiji Islands between 1840 - 2009 (PDF) (Report). Risk Frontiers. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ Gopal, Avinesh (1 December 2014). "Cyclones that tore Fiji apart". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Sequence of events of Cyclones Eric and Nigel". On slow net school. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^ a b c John D. Overton, Barbara Banks (1988). Rural Fiji. University of the South Pacific. pp. 86–87.
- ^ a b Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Detachment; National Climatic Data Center. Tropical Cyclone Eric, 12–20 January (Global tropical/extratropical cyclone climatic atlas6). Indiana University. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Relief Web. 18 January 1985. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Fiji — Cyclonic Storms (Pacific Region) Jan 1985 UNDRO Information Reports 1-4". Relief Web. 22 January 1985. Retrieved 28 April 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Vanuatu — Cyclones (PDF) (Disaster Case Report). United States Agency for International Development. 1985. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "Cyclone kills at least 11 on Fiji". United Press International. 18 January 1985. – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
- ^ Fiji — Cyclonic Storms (Pacific Region): Information Report 2 (UNDRO 85/0153). United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. 19 January 1985. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "Cyclone kills 11 in Fiji then roars across Tonga". The Deseret News. United Press International. 18 January 1985. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ Fiji — Cyclonic Storms (Pacific Region): Situation Report 3 (UNDRO 85/0295). United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. 6 February 1985. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ Fiji — Cyclonic Storms (Pacific Region): Situation Report 1 (UNDRO 85/0164). United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. 22 January 1985. Retrieved 6 December 2014.