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Tropical cyclone batters Fiji
Suva (AFP) Jan 29, 2008 A tropical cyclone battered the South Pacific island nation of Fiji, causing widespread flooding, blackouts in the capital and at least three deaths, officials and reports said Tuesday. Cyclone Gene smashed into Fiji overnight, dumping heavy rain and packing wind gusts of up to 140 kilometres (85 miles) per hour, the Fiji Meteorological Service said. Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who overthrew the elected government in a military coup in 2006, appealed for foreign help, saying it was too early to gauge the extent of the damage. "We hope the international community will be able to lend assistance where necessary," he told journalists. At least three people reportedly died as a result of the storm, including a young girl who drowned on Tuesday, another who could not be taken to hospital due to flooding and an elderly man who died in a house fire. Power remained cut to many parts of the country including the capital Suva, and low-lying areas were flooded, while roofs were ripped off homes, authorities said. Government offices, businesses and schools were closed. Much of the commercial area of the tourist hub Nadi remained under water Tuesday. Tourists were stranded at several Fijian resorts. The risk of flooding would increase as heavy rain was forecast through Wednesday, meteorologists said. Cyclone Gene was intensifying as it headed west and was expected to reach Vanuatu on Wednesday, the Australian-Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information said. Related Links Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters When the Earth Quakes A world of storm and tempest
Predictions Based Solely On Atlantic Hurricane Activity Can Lead To Overestimation Of Risk
Boston MA (SPX) Jan 08, 2008AIR Worldwide has announced results of the latest research by its team of scientists into the link between the formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin and U.S. landfall activity. The latest findings provide a context for better understanding the 2004-2007 hurricane seasons and demonstrate that using Atlantic basin activity as a proxy for landfall activity can lead to erroneous estimates of both landfall risk and potential insured losses. |
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