India / Bangladesh / Myanmar
On 4 Jan, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Tamenglong district in Manipur State, India. The earthquake killed at least eight people, injuring over 100 and damaging several buildings, mostly in Imphal, the state capital, which is 33 km from the epicentre. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed. The earthquake also impacted Bangladesh, where at least one person was killed and 10 injured while fleeing from buildings. Shaking was felt in Chin and Sagaing states of Myanmar where no damage has yet been reported.
Bhutan
On 26 Dec, a powerful windstorm lasting three hours hit three villages in Gasa Dzongkhag (district). The windstorm damaged 77 houses, a classroom, an outreach clinic and the Early Flood Warning Office, as well as 45 photovoltaic panels generating electric power. One of the affected villages, Lunana, is located at high altitude in rugged terrain and has no road connectivity. A detailed assessment led by the Government is ongoing in the affected villages. Significant losses to both private and public structures are feared. No casualties have been reported to date.
Fiji / Tonga
Tropical Cyclone Ula continues to move southwest underneath the main island of Fiji as a Category 3 storm. The most significant impacts have been felt today in Fiji's far south with damaging gales over the Lau Group of islands. Formal assessments are yet to be conducted but reports so far indicate that damage is minor. Tonga has also escaped with only minor damage to buildings and crops as TC Ula earlier passed through its northern islands.
Over the past week, four people have drowned in swollen rivers and rough seas associated with Tropical Depression 07F in Fiji. These are not attributed to TC Ula. Three people remain missing at sea after TD07F.
Solomon Islands
Health authorities in the Solomon Islands are managing a Rota Virus outbreak currently estimated to be affecting at least 2,500 people. The outbreak began in the capital but has spread to at least five provinces as people returned home to their villages for the holidays.
Indonesia
National and local authorities reported around 1,180 houses were inundated by flood waters Aceh, East Java, and West Java provinces, following torrential rains between 27 Dec and 2 Jan. Local authorities together with local NGOs are providing emergency assistance.