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User:Cyclonebiskit/JudyKevin

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Cyclones Judy and Kevin
Duration23 February – 4 March 2023
FatalitiesNone reported as of 5 March
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedFiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga
Part of the Australian region and South Pacific cyclone seasons

In February and March 2023, two consecutive cyclones—Judy and Kevin—caused significant damage across several South Pacific nations. Vanuatu in particular was heavily affected, being struck by both cyclones two days apart.

Background

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The United Nations ranks Vanuatu as the world's most-prone nation to natural disasters.[1]

Vanuatu

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Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) daily situation map for Vanuatu on 3 March
Preparations

On 27 February, the Government of Vanuatu issued yellow alerts for Torba, Sanma, Penama, and Malampa Provinces and blue alerts for Shefa and Tafea Provinces ahead of Cyclone Judy's arrival.[2] The four provinces under yellow were soon placed under red alerts as the cyclone progressed along a north to south path through the country.[3] The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) opened public shelters in Port Vila. The NDMO worked with the Vanuatu Christian Council of Churches to establish shelters at churches in the remainder of Efate Island and neighboring smaller islands.[4] Local volunteers coordinated with international agencies to warn residents of the storm and provide safety information.[5] Schools and businesses were closed nationwide and Air Vanuatu cancelled all flights.[6] UNICEF reported it had response personnel pre-deployed in Vanuatu. The agency had emergency stockpiles in place across the country, including hygiene kits, health kits, tents, and tarpaulins to support more than 20,000 people.[7] Care International pre-positioned household supplies and building materials in Port Vila and Tanna Island.[5]

Ahead of Cyclone Kevin's arrival on 3 March, hundreds of residents fled to public shelters.[1]

Impact

The entirety of Vanuatu was impacted one or both of the cyclones in a four-day period. According to DG ECHO, the entire population experienced winds of at least 60 km/h (37 mph); approximately 251,000 people (80 percent of the population) were affected by Category 2–3 winds, of whom 150,000 were affected by Category 3–4 winds.[8] Early assessments indicated the worst damage to be in Malapa, Penama, and Shefa Provinces. The storms severed access to running water in these areas and runoff contamination rendered river waters unsafe for consumption.[9] Extensive power outages occurred, with Port Vila remaining offline through 4 March. Bauerfield International Airport sustained damage.[9] Strong winds from Judy tore the roof off the infant ward at the Vanuatu Central Hospital.[1] Satellite analyses of imagery from the Sentinel-2 by UNOSAT on 4 March revealed extensive damage in Shefa Province with potential storm surge damage along the west coast of Efate Island. Damaged structures were found on Aniwa Island and Erromango Island in Tafea Province.[10]

Cyclone Judy brought hurricane-force winds to Efate Island on 28 February,[5] and its eye passed directly over the capital city of Port Vila.[11] Erromango and Tanna islands lost all communications on 1 March,[12] with the latter remaining isolated nearly a week later.[13]

Aftermath

The rapid succession of Judy and Kevin was described as "unprecedented" by UNICEF's Eric Durpaire.[1]

The Government of Vanuatu declared a state of emergency on 2 March.[14] Shortly after Judy's passage, the Government requested international assistance from Australia and New Zealand. The former pledged to provide water, medical supplies, and damage assessment teams by 6 March.[1] In accordance with the FRANZ agreement the New Zealand High Commission headed coordination with Australia, France, and New Zealand for relief efforts.[13] Within two days, two C-17 Globemaster aircraft reached Port Vila carrying the initial supplies and a 12 person rapid response team. On 5 March, the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Canberra set sail from Sydney, Australia, toward Vanuatu. The ship carried 600 Australian Defence Force personnel, three CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and landing craft for deployment. The ship could also serve as a mobile hospital.[15] World Vision Australia set up a disaster center to distribute supplies in Port Vila.[16] New Zealand, still reeling from the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle, deployed a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying water, temporary shelter kits, and hygiene kits on 4 March. A seven member team was also sent to assist in response coordination. Furthermore, the Government made a NZ$150,000 cash donation to Vanuatu.[17] Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape offered assistance to Vanuatu on 6 March.[18]

UNICEF sent a 16 member team to Vanuatu to conduct needs assessments and assist in supply distribution by 4 March. They partnered with the Vanuatu Red Cross Society by 4 March to distribute emergency supplies to affected residents. The agency also pledged additional supplies from stockpiles in Fiji.[9] DG ECHO sent their Rapid Response Coordinator to conduct a needs assessment on 6 March.[8]

Digicel suspended call fees to Vanuatu from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Nauru from 6 to 19 March.[13]

As Cyclone Kevin was impacting the nation on 3 March, a Mw 6.5 earthquake struck just west of Espiritu Santo at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). The earthquake had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VI, indicating strong shaking conditions.[1][19] The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center indicated no risk of a tsunami.[20]

Solomon Islands

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Cyclone Judy impacted the Solomon Islands at the end of February while the system that became Kevin started affecting the nation soon after. Strong winds and damaging waves battered the many islands of the nation for days.[21] Schools and businesses were shuttered across Honiara due to the winds.[22] The vessel M/V Vatud Star ran aground due to a rogue wave. A small boat carrying passengers enroute from Honiara to Central Province sank due to rough waves, but all of them managed to swim to safety.[22][23] Tidal waves produced by the storms destroyed 12 homes in West Honiara.[21] Communications with Lata were interrupted.[21]

Elsewhere

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On 28 February, New Zealand's MetService noted a risk of strong winds and large waves for New Caledonia as Cyclone Judy passed to the northeast.[4] A pre-cyclone alert was raised for the Loyalty Islands Province on 2 March as Kevin passed to the northeast.[22]

The Tonga MetService stated that the cyclones would likely remain far enough away to not have much impact; however, a small chance existed for Kevin to affect the kingdom.[22] During the overnight of 4–5 March, Kevin entered Tonga's territorial waters in the ʻOtu Muʻomuʻa group of islands near Tele-ki-Tokelau and Tele-ki Tonga. As of 6 March no damage was reported.[24]

Although Kevin remained far to the south and west of Fiji on 3–4 March, associated inclement weather stemming from a trough prompted the issuance of heavy rain warnings for Ba, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Nadroga-Navosa, and Ra provinces.[25] The Fiji Meteorological Service warned that the southernmost islands could see winds of 45 to 85 km/h (28 to 53 mph) along with damaging ocean swells.[22] Strong winds felled a royal poinciana tree in Naikabula, Ba Province, destroying a home in the process.[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Guinto, Joel (3 March 2023). "Vanuatu: Pacific nation reels from twin cyclones and earthquake". BBC. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Vanuatu - Tropical cyclone FIFTEEN (GDACS, JTWC, VMGD) (ECHO Daily Flash of 27 February 2022)". Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  3. ^ "Vanuatu, Solomon Islands - Tropical cyclone JUDY, update (GDACS, JTWC, VMGD, UNOSAT-UNITAR, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 28 February 2023)". Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  4. ^ a b "Powerful Cyclone Judy hits Vanuatu". Council for International Development. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  5. ^ a b c "Vanuatu capital battered by hurricane force winds as Cyclone Judy intensifies and heads south". Care International. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  6. ^ Srinivasan, Prianka (28 February 2023). "Cyclone Judy make landfall in Vanuatu". Australian Broadcasting Coproration. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. ^ "UNICEF Vanuatu Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 (Cyclone JUDY): 02 March 2023" (PDF). UNICEF. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  8. ^ a b "Vanuatu - Tropical cyclones JUDY (update) and KEVIN (GDACS, JTWC, VMGD, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 06 March 2023)". Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  9. ^ a b c "UNICEF Vanuatu Humanitarian Situation Report No. 2: 02-04 March 2023" (PDF). United Nations Children's Fund. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  10. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Judy and Kevin, Preliminary satellite-derived damage assessment - 06 March 2023" (PDF). UNOSAT. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  11. ^ Perry, Nick (28 February 2023). "Cyclone Judy lashes Vanuatu as residents hunker down". Muswellbrook Chronicle. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Cyclone Kevin bears down on Vanuatu as Judy continues through the country". Te Ao Māori News. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Rovoi, Christine (6 March 2023). "Vanuatu cyclones: No word yet from Kiwis on cut-off Tanna Island". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Vanuatu - Tropical cyclones update and earthquakes (GDACS, JTWC, VMGD, Reliefweb, USGS) (ECHO Daily Flash of 03 March 2023)". Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  15. ^ "HMAS Canberra to deploy to Vanuatu". Government of Australia. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  16. ^ Ward, Rachael (3 March 2023). "Assistance on the way as Vanuatu reels from cyclones". Macquarie Port News. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Aotearoa New Zealand sends relief to Vanuatu". Government of New Zealand. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  18. ^ "PM assures support to disaster struck areas". Loop. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  19. ^ "M 6.5 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. National Earthquake Information Center. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  20. ^ Tsunami Information Statement Number 1 (Report). Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. 3 March 2023. Archived from the original (.txt) on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Kadama, Charles (2 March 2023). "Tidal waves destroy homes". Solomon Star. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d e Rovoi, Christine (4 March 2023). "Vanuatu declares state of emergency as Pacific reels from impacts of multiple storms and quake hits island nation". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  23. ^ Nolan, Jimmy (2 March 2023). "Wild Weather Smashes Honiara". Solomon Times. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin no longer a threat". Matangi Tonga Online. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  25. ^ Vula, Tomoci (5 March 2023). "STC Kevin weakens to category 4". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  26. ^ Reddy, Navnesh (6 March 2023). "Kevin flattens Lautoka home". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone Judy (2023).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclone Kevin (2023).
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