Tropical Depression 04F (2009)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Depression 04F was the first tropical depression to affect Fiji
since Cyclone Gene
made landfall on the country during January 2008. The depression formed late on January 4, 2009 as a weak tropical disturbance near the eastern edge of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
(RSMC) in Nadi responsibility. The disturbance then rapidly organised itself sufficiently to be classified as Tropical Depression 04F early the next morning. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southeast, before on January 8 it started to bring heavy rainfall to Fiji. RSMC Nadi then issued their final advisory on it later that day, as it was then an extratropical depression. However, late the next day RSMC Nadi started to reissue advisories on the depression and immediately passed primary warning responsibility for it to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
, who issued warnings on the depression until early on January 12 when they issued their last advisory.
in Nadi, Fiji, reported that a weak tropical disturbance had formed within the Coral Sea, to the east of Vanuatu. At this time the disturbance had a circulation that was located within an environment which had low levels of vertical wind shear
. Convection had been present within the circulation for at least 12 hours, however it was poorly organised at this time. Early on January 5, RSMC Nadi reported that the disturbance had organised itself sufficiently to be classified as a tropical depression, and assigned the designation of 04F. At this time convection was displaced to the north of the low level circulation center. The next morning RSMC Nadi reported that the depression's low level circulation center was exposed with deep convection being disorganised.
Early on January 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
(JTWC) reported that the depression had a broad low level circulation center which had disorgainised deep convection. They also reported that the depression lay in an area of moderate to strong vertical wind shear and thus was not expected to develop. Early the next day the JTWC declared that the depression had dissipated. Later that day RSMC Nadi reported that the tropical depression lay in an area of moderately sheared environment with deep convection being to the east of the low level Circulation Center. They also downgraded it to a depression at this time which meant that the depression had some extra-tropical characteristics. At this time as the depression was starting to brush by Fiji, RSMC Nadi released their final advisory on Tropical Depression 04F. The next day RSMC Nadi started to reissue advisories on Depression 04F, as the depression had reorganised itself, and had reached its peak winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), with a peak pressure of 994 hPa. They then transferred primary warning responsibility of 04F to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southwest, before TCWC Wellington issued their final advisory on the depression on January 12.
of the island of Viti Levu
in Fiji
. This area is ordinarily the "dry" side of the island. The floods left eleven people dead, including three teenagers, with six drowning
in the flood waters, and a landslide
killing another two. In some areas, flood waters reached heights of up to 3 meters.
Tropical Depression 04F brought heavy rainfall to the Northern
, Central
and Western
divisions of Fiji
from January 8 until January 10. There was a total of eleven people killed within Fiji whilst over 6,000 people were displaced and went to 114 emergency shelter
s, and were given "meals...biscuits, milk and other dry stock." In addition, power and telephone lines have been downed, and many roads were rendered impassable. Sugarcane
, an important crop in the affected region, was heavily destroyed. Frank Bainimarama
, the interim Prime Minister
, declared a state of emergency
, and said that the government is working diligently to assist in relief efforts. Because of the state of emergency, there are mandatory curfews in several large towns to prevent looting
.
At least 600 tourists, mostly from New Zealand
, were left stranded by the flooding.
donated aproxmitely three million Australian Dollars to the Relief fund. This was made up of $1,000,000 (500,000 USD) for immediate assistance and 2,000,000 (100,000 USD) for long term assistance. AusAID also donated just under 390,000 FJD (200,000 USD) to assist with the repairs to school infrastructure and the provision of resources to flood-affected schools. New Zealand
also donated near four million New Zealand dollars to the relief fund. This was made up of 3 million dollars for long term recovery and 80,000 for the educational needs of people in the areas that were hardest hit by the depression. The European Union
also donated over $2 million Fiji dollars (FJD), (One million USD), which was also for rehabiltation of schools as well as paying of some of the fees that students are required to pay. The Governments of the United Kingdom
, China
, France
, Tonga
, Korea
and Samoa
each contributed money to the relief fund totaling up to 286,000 FJD (152,000 USD). Whilst the governments of Papua New Guinea
, New Caledonia
, and India
pledged over $700,000 USD to the relief effort and for reconstruction efforts. The Us Embassy and the China Redcross also donated just under 120,000FJD worth of goods for relief efforts.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
since Cyclone Gene
Cyclone Gene
Severe Tropical Cyclone Gene was the deadliest storm as well as the most damaging tropical cyclone of the 2007–08 South Pacific cyclone season east of 160ºE...
made landfall on the country during January 2008. The depression formed late on January 4, 2009 as a weak tropical disturbance near the eastern edge of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
Regional Specialized Meteorological Center
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
(RSMC) in Nadi responsibility. The disturbance then rapidly organised itself sufficiently to be classified as Tropical Depression 04F early the next morning. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southeast, before on January 8 it started to bring heavy rainfall to Fiji. RSMC Nadi then issued their final advisory on it later that day, as it was then an extratropical depression. However, late the next day RSMC Nadi started to reissue advisories on the depression and immediately passed primary warning responsibility for it to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, who issued warnings on the depression until early on January 12 when they issued their last advisory.
Meteorological history
On January 4, 2009, the Regional Specialized Meteorological CentreRegional Specialized Meteorological Centre
A Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre is responsible for the distribution of information, advisories, and warnings regarding the specific program they have a part of, agreed by consensus at the World Meteorological Organization as part of the World Weather Watch.-Tropical...
in Nadi, Fiji, reported that a weak tropical disturbance had formed within the Coral Sea, to the east of Vanuatu. At this time the disturbance had a circulation that was located within an environment which had low levels of vertical wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
. Convection had been present within the circulation for at least 12 hours, however it was poorly organised at this time. Early on January 5, RSMC Nadi reported that the disturbance had organised itself sufficiently to be classified as a tropical depression, and assigned the designation of 04F. At this time convection was displaced to the north of the low level circulation center. The next morning RSMC Nadi reported that the depression's low level circulation center was exposed with deep convection being disorganised.
Early on January 7, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
(JTWC) reported that the depression had a broad low level circulation center which had disorgainised deep convection. They also reported that the depression lay in an area of moderate to strong vertical wind shear and thus was not expected to develop. Early the next day the JTWC declared that the depression had dissipated. Later that day RSMC Nadi reported that the tropical depression lay in an area of moderately sheared environment with deep convection being to the east of the low level Circulation Center. They also downgraded it to a depression at this time which meant that the depression had some extra-tropical characteristics. At this time as the depression was starting to brush by Fiji, RSMC Nadi released their final advisory on Tropical Depression 04F. The next day RSMC Nadi started to reissue advisories on Depression 04F, as the depression had reorganised itself, and had reached its peak winds of 75 km/h (45 mph), with a peak pressure of 994 hPa. They then transferred primary warning responsibility of 04F to the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand. Over the next couple of days the depression moved towards the southwest, before TCWC Wellington issued their final advisory on the depression on January 12.
Preparations and impact
The 2009 Fiji floods occurred on January 10, 2009, and the following days after Tropical Depression 04F hit the western sectionWestern Division, Fiji
The Western Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of the three provinces Ba, Nadroga-Navosa and Ra.The capital of the division is Lautoka. The division includes the western part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a few outlying islands, including the Yasawa...
of the island of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. This area is ordinarily the "dry" side of the island. The floods left eleven people dead, including three teenagers, with six drowning
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
in the flood waters, and a landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
killing another two. In some areas, flood waters reached heights of up to 3 meters.
Tropical Depression 04F brought heavy rainfall to the Northern
Northern Division, Fiji
The Northern Division is one of four Divisions into which Fiji's fourteen Provinces are grouped for local government purposes. The administrative centre of the Division, where main governmental departments are located, is Labasa....
, Central
Central Division, Fiji
The Central Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of five provinces - Naitasiri, Namosi, Rewa, Serua and Tailevu.The capital of the division is Suva, which is also the capital of Fiji. The division includes the eastern part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a...
and Western
Western Division, Fiji
The Western Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of the three provinces Ba, Nadroga-Navosa and Ra.The capital of the division is Lautoka. The division includes the western part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a few outlying islands, including the Yasawa...
divisions of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
from January 8 until January 10. There was a total of eleven people killed within Fiji whilst over 6,000 people were displaced and went to 114 emergency shelter
Emergency shelter
Emergency shelters are places for people to live temporarily when they can't live in their previous residence, similar to homeless shelters. The main difference is that an emergency shelter typically specializes in people fleeing a specific type of situation, such as natural or man-made disasters,...
s, and were given "meals...biscuits, milk and other dry stock." In addition, power and telephone lines have been downed, and many roads were rendered impassable. Sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, an important crop in the affected region, was heavily destroyed. Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
, the interim Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
, declared a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
, and said that the government is working diligently to assist in relief efforts. Because of the state of emergency, there are mandatory curfews in several large towns to prevent looting
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
.
At least 600 tourists, mostly from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, were left stranded by the flooding.
Aftermath and response
AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
donated aproxmitely three million Australian Dollars to the Relief fund. This was made up of $1,000,000 (500,000 USD) for immediate assistance and 2,000,000 (100,000 USD) for long term assistance. AusAID also donated just under 390,000 FJD (200,000 USD) to assist with the repairs to school infrastructure and the provision of resources to flood-affected schools. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
also donated near four million New Zealand dollars to the relief fund. This was made up of 3 million dollars for long term recovery and 80,000 for the educational needs of people in the areas that were hardest hit by the depression. The European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
also donated over $2 million Fiji dollars (FJD), (One million USD), which was also for rehabiltation of schools as well as paying of some of the fees that students are required to pay. The Governments of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
each contributed money to the relief fund totaling up to 286,000 FJD (152,000 USD). Whilst the governments of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
pledged over $700,000 USD to the relief effort and for reconstruction efforts. The Us Embassy and the China Redcross also donated just under 120,000FJD worth of goods for relief efforts.
See also
- 2008-09 South Pacific cyclone season2008-09 South Pacific cyclone seasonThe 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone season began on December 1, 2008 with the formation of Tropical Disturbance 01F. This was 30 days after the season had officially begun on November 1, 2008. The season officially ended on April 30, 2009. Tropical cyclones that were between 160°E and 120°W and north...
- Timeline of the 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone seasonTimeline of the 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone seasonThe 2008–09 South Pacific cyclone season was a below-average season with only six tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific between 160°E and 120°W...