Tropical Cyclone Yasi Situation Update #1 31 January 2011

Home , Merig, Metoma, Torba Province, Torres Islands, Ureparapara

This report was issued by OCHA SRO Fiji. It covers the period from 30 January 2011 to 31 January 2011.

• TC Yasi was declared on 30 January 2011, and upgraded to a Category 2 cyclone on 31 January. • On 30 January, TC Yasi passed through the Banks Island group in TORBA province in Vanuatu, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and 3-4m storm surge waves. The Banks group includes Gaua Island, where the Gaua volcano displaced the total population of the western side of Gaua (404 people) in November 2009. • Initial reports from Vanuatu Red Cross indicate some minor damage to dwellings and crops. • TC Yasi is predicted to intensify to at least a Category 3 and make landfall near Townsville in Queensland, Australia within the next 72 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 90 issued 0123 UTC Monday 31 January 2011

Source: RSMC Nadi

Situation Overview

According to RSMC Nadi Meteorology Service, Tropical Cyclone Yasi, a Category 2, was located near 13.6S 164.2E at midnight UTC 31 January 2011 (11am, 31 January 2011 local time); or approximately 240 nautical miles southeast of Rennell Island, Solomon Islands.

TC Yasi passed between the Banks and Torres Islands groups in the northern TORBA province of Vanuatu at around 1300 UTC 30 January 2011 (midnight local time). The Banks Island group in Vanuatu’s northern

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. province of TORBA (pop 9359) consists of 13 islands1, the most populous being Vanua Lava (2597), Gaua (2491) and Moto Lava (1451).

All flights to TORBA province have been cancelled.

The Vanuatu Red Cross has reported that food sources are affected with food gardens and fruit trees on Mota Lava Island been significantly or totally damaged, but water sources appear to be safe. Initial reports also indicated five houses have been destroyed on Mota Lava, though conditions are still preventing a detailed assessment of the islands.

Similar reports have been received on the status of Vanua Lava and Gaua.

While assessments are continuing, the Government of Vanuatu has not declared an emergency in relation to TC Yasi. Vanuatu’s National Disaster Committee met today to discuss a response to TC Vania which impacted Vanuatu’s southern island groups from 12-13 January 2011. An earlier planned assessment mission to Gaua for return of 404 villagers displaced by the active Gaua volcano was postponed this month due to TC Vania.

TC Yasi is heading west at 14 knots, and is predicted to intensify to a Category 3 in the next 18 hours. Warnings have been issued to national authorities in both Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to expect sustained winds of 55 knots close to the centre (increasing to 85 knots in the next 24 hours), rough seas with increasing swells and coastal flooding. For Solomon Islands, a cyclone warning is now current for Temotu, Rennell & Bellona, and Makira and Guadalcanal provinces.

OCHA SRO Fiji is in contact with the National Disaster Management Offices in both Honiara (Solomon Islands) and Port Vila (Vanuatu) as TC Yasi progresses.

Source: Department of Land, Survey and Registry, Vanuatu.

1 The other islands (population in brackets): Rah (189), Awakei (26), Loh (210), Merelava (647), Merig (12), Metoma (13), Mota (683) Ureparapara (437), Hiu (269) Tegua (58), Toga (276). The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.