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Tropical Cyclone Zoe - Dec 2002

Disaster description

Tropical Cyclone Zoë was a Category 5 Hurricane — the strongest recorded in the South Pacific [as of March 2003]. It battered the remote islands of Tikopia and Anuta in Temotu Province with sustained winds of 245 km/h, gusts up to 340 km/h, and extremely strong storm surge, for a period of 16 hours over 28–29 December 2002. Tikopia and Anuta were amongst the most isolated of South Pacific islands, with no telephones or airstrip, and intervals between visits of supply boats of up to 7 months.

In spite of its incredible power, the cyclone did not cause any significant injuries or longer-term medical problems. There were no casualties. However, 65% of buildings were severely damaged or destroyed including 220 homes, 4 churches, and both primary schools on Tikopia. All water supply systems were damaged. The cyclone destroyed over 90% of gardens and devastated the environment, particularly on Tikopia, where the tree cover was shredded, undergrowth and crops were washed away, buried by silt or killed by saltwater inundation, and the central lake was breached by the sea. (OCHA, 27 Mar 2003)

While much attention focussed on Tikopia in Solomon Islands, the northern islands of Vanuatu were also affected by the storms. The government of Vanuatu requested assistance from France to investigate the impact of the cyclone on Vanua Lava and Mota Lava, in the “Banks” group of islands. According to Benoit Denise, humanitarian attache at the Embassy of France in Port Vila, on Vanua Lava, “local bungalows were wiped out on a beach and mostly by waves which came over the beach getting inland [at approximately] 30 to 40 metres, [which] destroyed what was built in the area.” On Mere Lava, “there had been some landslide but that the villagers did not seem to have been affected.” (ABC, 6 Jan 2003)

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