Caribbean: Hurricane Dennis OCHA Situation Report No. 4

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/00101

OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Hurricane Dennis - The Caribbean
9 July 2005

This message is not an official hurricane warning or alert for any country.

1. The National Weather Center in Miami reports that at 11.00 am GMT today, Dennis, now downgraded to a category II hurricane, is located near latitude 24.7 North, longitude 83.3 West or about 125 miles/201 Km West of Key West, Florida, moving toward the Northwest at 14 MPH/22 Km/PH. Maximum sustained winds are at 100 MPH/160 Km/PH. Some gradual strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours.

Situation in Cuba

2. According to information provided by the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Havana, Dennis caused extensive damage in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Sancti Spiritu, Cien Fuegos and Villa Clara. Other provinces affected, though to a lesser extent, are Matnazas and Havana.

3. In Granma, communication by land with Santiago de Cuba is blocked due to flooding. The municipalities of Pilón and Niquero have been seriously damaged as well as the tourist villages of Punta de Piedra, María del Portillo and Farallón del Caribe. Aproximately 6,000 dwellings have been affected. Damages to maize and banana crops are also reported. In Santiago de Cuba, the most affected municipality is Guama, which can only be reached by air.

4. According to official figures, 8 people died and 1,433,900 were evacuated, of which 162,000 are staying in temporary shelters. Close to 11,000 tourists were also evacuated by the Government and remain safe. Most of the evacuees are staying with friends or relatives. Major damages are reported in the housing, electricity, telecommunications and transportation sectors.

5. All communications with the province of Granma are interrupted. The Cuban Civil defense has dispatched helicopters to begin damage and needs assessment.

6. A coordination meeting has been convened by the UN Resident Coordinator's office for tomorrow, 10 July, with NGOs and the Cuban Civil Defense with the aim to identify priority relief needs.

7. OCHA remains in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Offices in Cuba and will continue reporting as further information is made available.

8. For tracking and further information, please refer to the Website of the National Hurricane Service in Miami at www.nhc.noaa.gov, and www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/atl.latest.gif.

9. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

MAP: Tropical storm Dennis warning map

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

Mr. Ricardo Mena, Ms.Charlotta Benedek
E-mail: menar@un.org, benedek@un.org,
direct Tel. +41-22-917 14 55, 917 1205

Press contact:

(in GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(in N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26