SITUATION

1. ON 7 AND 8 JANUARY 1993, THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY HAILSTORM AND RAIN HIT SIX LOCATIONS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF BANGLADESH (BOGRA, NOAGAON, SUNAMGANJ, SYLHET, TANGAIL AND JAMALPUR). THE BANGLADESH METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS THIS EVENT, KNOWN AS 'TRANSLATORY WIND', AS AN ABNORMAL PHENOMENON FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH A SIMILAR EVENT WAS EXPERIENCED IN 1992.

2. THE OFFICIAL DAMAGE REPORT PROVIDED

UNDRO 93/0001
FIJI - CYCLONE KINA
DHA-UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
03 JANUARY 1993

1. SUVA, CAPITAL OF FIJI AND ITS SURROUNDINGS HAVE BEEN HIT BY TROPICAL CYCLONE KINA. THERE IS WIDESPREAD DAMAGE ALONG THE COASTAL AREA. 6 PERSONS ARE REPORTED DEAD, MANY MORE (FISHERMAN, TRAVELLERS) ARE MISSING. MORE CASUALTIES ARE EXPECTED.

2. IN SEVERAL POINTS OF SUVA THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM HAS BEEN AFFECTED.

THERE ARE WATER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING WATER CONTAMINATION DUE TO HEAVY FLOODING.

Addressing problems of poorly prepared and coordinated response and seeking to enable victims of future disasters to be helped more effectively, the conference sought to provide an opportunity for relief staff to learn from past mistakes and consider ways of improving their response.