PORT VILA, VANUATU, March 19, 2010
/24-7PressRelease/ -- As Tropical Cyclone Tomas moved toward the northern islands of Fiji on the 14th March, 2010, the streets of Fiji were eerily empty. Schools were closed, public services suspended and international flights cancelled, as a night-time curfew was put into operation.
Matt Beeterhoven, senior forecastor for the Fiji Meteorological Service said "Wind gusts were peaking at around 230 mph".
The nation's Disaster Council, chaired by Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, announced a state of emergency for the northern and eastern parts of the country on Tuesday morning. Up to eight metre ocean surges and rising rivers were reported.
Tropical Cyclone Tomas, was listed as being a category 4, (out of a possible 5), with wind speeds between 131 and 155 mph. Across the country up to 17,000 people escaped to 240 evacuation centres. Moving at only 4 mph, the slow speed of the Cyclone increased the potential danger level.
Tamarisi Tabua, 31 year old, is the only reported death to date, though dozens of others were injured. Before being swept away by a huge ocean surge on Vanua Levu, Tabua saved her sisters and two children.
TC Tomas was expected to decrease to a category 3 (winds of 111-130 mph) late on Tuesday, back to a category 2 by Wednesday. The cyclone is one of the strongest to hit Fiji for several years.
Across the South Pacific, Tropical Cyclone Ului, another Category 4, also moving at 4mph, whipped the southern-most parts of the Solomon Islands.
Originating in the northern part of archipelago of the Vanuatu islands, as a tropical storm, Ului did a tiny sharp dog leg north before travelling west. Gathering in strength, it briefly became a category 5, (winds over 156, mph) before turning south, south west toward the Australian coast.
On Sunday, 14th March, Australia issued warnings of an extremely dangerous tropical storm heading its way. However, it was forecast to decrease to a category 1 (wind gusts between 74-95 mph) by Thursday and remain at sea, according to the Queensland weather bureau, with the possibility of it finally crossing the coast line as a Tropical Depression.
TC Ului's arrival is on the fourth anniversary of the TC Larry, category 5, which hit Innisfail, March 20, 2006. The high winds affected an area 150 km in each direction from the eye of the storm. This was the first category 5 Cyclone to hit the Queensland coast in 30 years.
Officials admit the path of Tropical Cylcone Ului is unpredictable.
About Spectacular Twin Cyclones Continue To Lash South Pacific
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