New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga - Tropical Cyclone GITA Update</h1> <article> <p>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 07:04:00 +01:00</p> </article> <article> <h1>New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga - Tropical Cyclone GITA Update</h1> <p>Fri, 16 Feb 2018 06:35:00 +01:00</p> <ul> <li>Tropical Cyclone GITA continued moving south-southwest away from Fiji and Tonga. On 16 February at 0.00 UTC, it was located 230 km south-east of Mare island (New Caledonia) and had maximum sustained winds of 176 km/h. </li> <li>GITA is forecast to weaken and pass approximately 100-150 km south of the islands of Koutoumo and Pins (New Caledonia) on 16 February morning UTC. It might then pass west of Norfolk Island on 18 February and could reach New Zealand on 20 February. </li> <li>Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge could continue to affect New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand over the coming days. Meteo France New Caledonia has issued a Tropical Cyclone alert level 2 for the island of Pins and a Tropical Cyclone pre-alert for the rest of the country. </li> <li>According to national authorities, as of 16 February, in Tonga 4 521 people were moved into 108 evacuation centres in Tongatapu island and into 22 centres in Ha'apai group of islands. Preliminary building assessment from Copernicus Emergency Management Service reported that over 4 200 buildings have been damaged (either possibly damaged, damaged or destroyed) in Tongatapu and 'Eua.</li> </ul> </article> <article> <h1>Fiji, Tonga, Niue, American Samoa, Samoa - Tropical Cyclone GITA Update</h1> <p>Wed, 14 Feb 2018 07:09:00 +01:00</p> <ul> <li>Very strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge due to category 4 Tropical Cyclone GITA have affected the islands of 'Eua and Tongatapu (Tonga). GITA also passed close to Ono-I-Lau island (Fiji) on 13 February. On 14 February at 0.00 UTC, it was located 200 km south-west of Kandavu island and had maximum sustained winds of 213 km/h. </li> <li>The Tropical Cyclone is forecast to continue moving west-southwest. It could pass approximately 300-350 km south of Tafea group of Islands (Vanuatu) on 15 February and 150-250 km south of New Caledonia on 16 February. Heavy rain and strong winds could affect southern Vanuatu, New Caledonia and continue to affect the Western Division of Fiji over 13-16 February. </li> <li>The Meteorological service of Fiji has issued a gale warning for Kadavu and nearby smaller islands. A strong wind warning also remains in force for the rest of Fiji. </li> <li>According to an initial needs assessment conducted by the National Emergency Management Office of the Kingdom of Tonga, one person died, 3 900 people were evacuated to 108 centres and 960 houses were damaged in Tongatapu island. In Fiji, no casualties or injuries have been reported. Three buildings have been completely destroyed and four have been partially damaged in Ono-I-Lau island. </li> </ul> </article> <article> <h1>Fiji, Tonga, Niue, American Samoa, Samoa - Tropical Cyclone GITA Update</h1> <p>Tue, 13 Feb 2018 06:32:00 +01:00</p> <ul> <li>Tropical Cyclone GITA passed near the islands of <g class="gr_ gr_21 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="21" data-gr-id="21">Eua</g> (population 4 900) and Tongatapu (population 74 600) on 12 February morning UTC as an intense category 4 Tropical Cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h. Very strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge affected the islands of Eua and Tongatapu, including the capital Nuku’alofa. On 13 February at 0.00 UTC, GITA was located 150 km south of Vatoa island (Lau archipelago, Fiji) and it had maximum sustained winds of 222 km/h.</li> <li>Over the next 24 hours, GITA is forecast to pass near Ono-I-Lau island (Lau islands, Fiji) as an intense Tropical Cyclone. Very strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge could also affect the southern Lau islands. </li> <li>The Joint Research Centre is following the events through the Global Disasters Alerts and Coordination System (GDACS) which currently classifies GITA as a red alert. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is also closely monitoring the situation, in coordination with a DG ECHO field expert who is being deployed to the region.</li> <li>Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated (EMSR269) on 12 February for the west part of Tonga.</li> <li>According to media in Tonga, 3 serious and 30 minor injuries have been reported in Tongatapu island and several buildings have been damaged in the two affected islands of Tongatapu and Eua due to the strong winds. The Parliament building in the capital Nuku'alofa has been badly damaged and the airport is currently closed. Roofs have been torn apart. 3 035 people have been evacuated in 41 evacuation centres. The roads of the two islands are affected by floods and debris flows. </li> </ul> </article> <article> <h1>Tonga, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, American Samoa - Tropical Cyclone GITA</h1> <p>Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:58:00 +01:00</p> <ul> <li>Tropical Cyclone GITA formed over the Southern Pacific Ocean on 9 February, close to Wallis and Futuna. It has passed near Samoa, American Samoa and east of Niue, causing damage and floods, especially in Samoa.</li> <li>GITA is forecast to pass near or over the islands of <g class="gr_ gr_31 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="31" data-gr-id="31">Eua</g> (4 900 people) and Tongatapu (74 600 people, the most populous island of Tonga) on 12 February as an intense Tropical Cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 210-220 km/h. It is then forecast to pass south of Ona-I Lau island (Fiji) on 13 February. Very strong winds heavy rains and storm surge could affect these islands as well as Ha'apai and Vava'u group of Islands (Tonga). </li> <li>The Joint Research Centre is following the event through the information automatically collected and analysed in the Global Disasters Alerts and Coordination System (GDACS). GDACS has issued a red alert for GITA in Tonga, <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400;">as the cyclone can have a high humanitarian impact based on strong winds, affected population and their vulnerability. </span> </li> <li>The government of Tonga has declared a state of emergency. Tropical cyclone warnings have been issued for Vava'u Ha'apai, Tongatapu and Eua (Tonga) and for southern Lau islands (Fiji).</li> <li>According to media, as of 12 February, 300 people have been evacuated in the capital of Samoa, <g class="gr_ gr_28 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="28" data-gr-id="28">Apias. S</g>everal houses have been damaged and roads have been flooded in Samoa and American Samoa.</li> </ul> </article> </main></body></html>