PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

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KARACHI, 4 June 2010 (IRIN) - As coastal areas in the southern Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan braced for Cyclone Phet, currently approaching Oman, authorities began evacuating 60,000 villagers.

President Asif Ali Zardari ordered the military and government to take "immediate precautionary measures" as the tropical cyclone approached.

"Cyclone Phet has almost reached the Oman coast and could move towards Pakistan's coastline of Balochistan and Sindh in the next 24-36 hours," Naeem Shah, a meteorological department official, told the media on 3 June.

Concern is also rising in Balochistan. "We are doing everything possible to cope with the situation. We could begin moving people away if there is immediate danger," Muhammad Hassan Baloch, head of the disaster management authority in the province, told IRIN.

Baloch said 500,000 people living in coastal areas could be affected.

"The sea is getting really choppy and stormy. Things don't look good at all," Shabbir Ahmed, 60, a resident of Karachi, provincial capital of Sindh, told IRIN. "There is really very little preparedness in Karachi. People have no idea what to do."

In a statement, the Pakistan Fisherfolks Forum said a search was on for about "160 boats at sea that have not returned". Between 5,000 and 6,000 people are believed to be on the boats. The Pakistan navy has been assisting with search operations, according to media reports.

"My husband and sons have stayed off the sea. I am glad they are safe even though this means a loss of income. We are praying for those still at sea," Ghaffara Mai, 40, told IRIN from the fishing village of Ketti Bandar, near Karachi.

The Pakistan Met Office said coastal areas were vulnerable to the cyclone, but forecast that Karachi - Pakistan's largest city with a population of more than 15 million - would not be badly affected. Authorities in the city have put hospitals and emergency services on alert.

About 60,000 people have already been moved from coastal areas. "We have shifted them to hundreds of relief camps established in school buildings in the area," Munir Memon, a senior official in the provincial relief commission, was quoted by AFP as saying.

Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency said it had ordered all boats to remain in harbours.

Sindh and Balochistan were hit in July 2007 by Cyclone Yemyin, which killed at least 250 people, left 1.2 million homeless and destroyed 250,000 houses. Cyclone Phet has already reportedly caused heavy rains in some parts of Sindh.

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Re: PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

Oman, Pakistan and India: Severe Cyclonic Storm Phet - Past and Forecast Track (as of 04 Jun 2010)



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Re: PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

Cyclone Phet bears down on Pakistan after hitting Oman



KARACHI: The meteorological department recommended on Friday immediate evacuation from low-lying coastal areas, particularly in Balochistan, as a precautionary measure against Cyclone Phet, which was expected to hit the area on Sunday.

Fishermen's representatives said most boats had returned to the coast. However, they expressed concern over lack of facilities, including food, at relief camps.

One of Karachi's two ports had been evacuated, while the other would be cleared of ships by Saturday morning, the authorities said.

The Meteorological Department's Director-General, Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry, told Dawn that Balochistan's coastal areas, which are nearer to the Omani coast than those in Sindh, would be buffeted by gusty winds, heavy rains and high waves on Saturday.

He said it was important that communities living in Makran's coastal areas were immediately shifted to safe places.

Dr Chaudhry said Phet, which earlier was classified as 'very severe', had weakened after hitting Oman.

He said the cyclone was likely to veer towards Pakistan, approach the coastal areas on Saturday and make landfall in the early hours of Sunday with 100-120km wind speed and a storm surge of four to six metres.

Sindh will get rains from Saturday till Tuesday. Heavy rains might cause flash flood in Balochistan and Sindh, including Karachi Mr Qamaruz Zaman said.

MISSING BOATS:

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum's chief Mohammad Ali Shah said that only four boats -- three from Jati and one from Hawkesbay, Karachi -- carrying 25 fishermen had not yet returned to the coast. He said over 50 fishing boats belonging to Thatta and Badin with around 1,000 fishermen onboard had been brought from the open sea and moored the Korangi fish harbour, but the people lodged in a camp were not being provided food.

Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority's chief Saleh Farooqui told journalists that over 7,000 people had been evacuated from low-lying areas of Thatta and Badin to relief camps.

Arrangements are in place to house over 2.5 million people in camps, Mr Farooqui added.

Over a dozen ships moored at the Karachi Port were told on Friday afternoon to sail out to safe sea away from the outer anchorage.

A spokesperson said ships berthed at Port Qasim were being asked to leave and the last of them would clear the area by Saturday morning.

Shamim-ur-Rahman adds

: The navy continued its relief operation 'Madad', mounted aerial surveillance of the coastal belt and escorted 65 fishing boats to safe places.

According to a media release, the navy has set up relief camps at Keti Bunder and Gungu Jalbani in collaboration with the local administration. A relief headquarters has been set up at Chor Jamali.

A relief goods collection camp has been set up on Karachi's Sharea Faisal, near Hotel Regent Plaza.

Saleem Shahid adds from Quetta:

Coastal areas of Balochistan, including Gwadar, Pasni, Jiwani and Ormara towns, received heavy rain on Friday.

Met department director Saifullah Shami said the cyclone's movement indicated it could change its direction.

"Four to six metre high tides could form in the sea when the cyclone hit Balochistan and Sindh coastal areas." ? The DAWN Group of Newspapers


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[Ronan Kelly]

Re: PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

Cyclone Phet kills 12 in Oman
Sat Jun 5, 9:29 am ET
MUSCAT (AFP) ? Cyclone Phet killed 12 people and left one missing in Oman before barrelling towards Pakistan, the head of Oman's civil defence force said on Saturday.

Nine Omanis and three expatriates were killed by the storm, General Malek al-Muammari told Omani state television.

He told AFP that one of the three dead expatriates was from Bangladesh and a second was from Pakistan, while the nationality of the third was unknown.

An earlier statement on the official ONA news agency had said that victims included six people, among them a civil defence member, who were swept away by flood waters caused by rainfall from the cyclone.
continues at; http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100605/sc_afp/omanweathercyclonepakistan_20100605132916

 

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Re: PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

This bulletin is being issued for information only and reflects the current situation and details available at this time. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) will, however, accept direct assistance to provide support to the affected population.

Tropical Cyclone PHET in the Arabian Sea hit the Oman coast on 4 June. In Pakistan, the cyclone hit the areas of Thatta and Bhanbor (Sindh). It missed the coastal areas of Karachi. PRCS, along with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, has immediately responded. The PRCS response and logistics teams have reached the affected areas and they are engaged in emergency evacuations, rapid assessment and relief provision. Medical teams from Kt Bander has been directed to reach affected areas, but heavy rainfall is impeding their progress. On an urgent request from local authorities, PRCS has been establishing a relief camp in Badin. PRCS plans to provide food and other emergency relief items at camp. Over the last 24 hours, the coastal areas of Baluchistan received heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied with strong gusty winds. According to the local media, more than 7,000 people have been evacuated from different areas of Badin district (Sindh). The coastal areas of Sindh and Karachi city are also receiving torrent rainfall, flooding the low lying areas. Ten deaths have been reported in Karachi and numerous people injured. The PRCS disaster management cells in Baluchistan and Sindh are coordinating with the local government for every possible support in evacuation and establishment of relief camps. More rains with strong gusty winds are expected to hit the coastal areas of Baluchistan and Sindh over the next 36 hours.

The Situation

Tropical Cyclone PHET has hit the coastal areas of Sindh, including Badin and Thatta. The cyclone has missed the coastal areas of Karachi. It is likely to be associated with the storm surge of 2-4 metres along the Karachi coast and 3-5 metres along the Thatta coast. Under the influence of this system, heavy rainfall is occurring in Baluchistan, Sindh and Karachi. During last 24 hours, the average rainfall recorded in the coastal regions of Sindh and Baluchistan is as follows:

Sindh: Karachi Masroor 133 mm, Faisal Base 92 mm, Karachi Saddar 84 mm.

Baluchistan: Gawadar 370 mm, Jiwani 208 mm, Pasni 130 mm.

However, Sindh and Baluchistan are expected to receive more heavy to very heavy rainfall during the next 36 hours. The eastern coastal regions of Baluchistan may receive scattered rains, accompanied with gusty winds over the next 24 hours. Heavy rains may cause urban/flash flooding in Sindh, including Karachi. The Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned the fishermen of Sindh and Baluchistan not to venture in the open sea until further orders. Irrigation authorities in Sindh are requested to reduce the inflow in the irrigation system.

Evacuation from the vulnerable villages has begun. According to the local media, more than 7,000 people have been evacuated from different villages of Badin.

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Re: PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

Cyclone Phet kills 10 in Pakistan


Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)

Date: 07 Jun 2010


KARACHI ? Strong wind and rain killed 10 people, damaged property and flooded homes in southern Pakistan in the last 24 hours, but the disaster Cyclone Phet threatened to bring was averted, officials said Monday.

"The death toll has gone up to 10. Seven died in Karachi and three were killed in Hyderabad," Sindh province's health minister, Saghir Ahmed, told AFP.

Those killed in Karachi were all electrocuted. They included a 12-year-old boy who was playing outside his home in a stagnant pool when a snapped live wire fell into the water next to him, the minister said.

Property was damaged in the towns of Thatta and Badin, and a small building collapsed in Karachi, he said.

Children could be seen retrieving furniture and pouring out rainwater from shanty homes in Karachi.

Chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz said Cyclone Phet turned into a low depression after making landfall in Thatta and Badin, and moved towards Rajasthan in India.

Pakistan's military said it air-lifted relief goods to southwestern coastal towns, including blankets, pillows and tents.

Pakistan had battened down the hatches and prepared for an emergency after Cyclone Phet killed 16 people in Oman.

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from vulnerable coastal villages in Sindh, but thousands more refused to abandon their homes.

Hospitals in the Karachi area were also put on alert and medicines and tinned food stockpiled after meteorologists warned the cyclone might uproot power and communication lines along the coast. ?AFP: The information provided in this product is for personal use only. None of it may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the express permission of Agence France-Presse.

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[Shiloh]

Re: PAKISTAN: Evacuations begin as Cyclone Phet closes in

Source: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/506707/12762704286.htm


Emergency relief operation is underway in coastal Pakistan to help families left homeless by cyclone Phet
11 Jun 2010 15:22:00 GMT
Source: Plan UK
Plan UK
Website: http://www.plan-uk.org
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
506707 logo
AN EMERGENCY relief operation is underway in coastal Pakistan to help families left homeless by cyclone Phet last week.

Aid workers for NGO Plan International are distributing food, hygiene kits and vaccinations for livestock.

The charity is also working with partners to assess damage to homes, psychosocial needs of children, and loss of livelihood.

More than 100,000 people fled their homes on Sunday evening to seek shelter in camps as strong winds and heavy rain hammered Baluchistan and Sindh.

An outbreak of disease is a concern for those remaining in the camps with no safe drinking water, hygiene or sanitation...