Situation Report (SitRep)1: Mongar windstorm & forest fire
Bhutan Disaster Response
Situation Report No: 1
Day/Month/Year: 01/03/2016
Situation Overview
• A devastating windstorm has hit five gewogs viz. Chaskhar, Dremetse, Khengkhar, Narang and Thangrong in Mongar district on 28 February 2016.
• 40 households including one Lhakhang were affected with varying damages by the windstorm.
• The Dzongkhag also reported on two forest fire incident. The first incident occurred above Zimzorong, around 10 kms on Gelposhing Nanglam Highway while the second one occurred along Romangla boundary between Kengkhar and Drepong Gewogs.
• Forest officials and volunteers from nearby villages helped to contain the fire.
• No human casualties were reported from the above incidents.
• A detailed damage assessment on the windstorm is being carried out by the Dzongkhag Administration along with representatives from the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Ltd.
Bhutan, Dzongkhag (District) Affected
Description of disaster
A devastating windstorm has hit five gewogs viz. Chaskhar, Dremetse, Khengkhar, Narang and Thangrong in Mongar district on 28 February 2016. The windstorm destroyed several households with maximum damages in Thangrong gewog.
On the same day, two forest fire incidents were also reported to have occurred in the Dzongkhag. The first forest fire occurred above Zimzorong, around 10 kms on Gelposhing - Nanglam Highway while the second one occurred along Romangla boundary between Kengkhar and Drepong Gewogs.
Impact
The windstorm damaged around 40 households including one Lhakhang under Chaskhar, Dremetse, Khengkhar, Narang and Thangrong gewog in Mongar district. Thangrong gewog was worst hit with 17 households affected including a Lhakhang while Chaskar reported damages to 10 households followed by 6 households each in Dremetse and Narang and at least one household under Kengkhar gewog.
Several hectares of forested land also got burnt down in the Dzongkhag from a forest fire incident. The first incident which occurred above Zimzorong, around 10 kms on Gelposhing Nanglam Highway and the second one along Romangla boundary between Kengkhar and Drepong Gewogs damaged huge forest coverage.
However, no casualties were reported from the above incidents.
Humanitarian needs and responses
The forest officials and volunteers from nearby villages helped to contain the fire. A detailed damage assessment on the windstorm is being yet to be carried out by the Dzongkhag Administration along with representatives from the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Ltd.
The local government have not yet appealed for any humanitarian support from the UN at this time of reporting. Next SitRep: (as and when required)
For more information, please contact:
Kesang C. Phuntsho Office of the UN Resident Coordinator / Humanitarian Coordinator United Nations House Post Office Box 162, Thimphu, Bhutan Tel: +975-2-322424/334570 Fax: + 975-2-322675 www.unct.org.bt
Tashi Dorji Portfolio Manager Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management UN Development Programme Tel: +975-2-322424/334570 [email protected]