PHILIPPINES
Tropical Cyclone Hagupit (Ruby) has weakened while traversing the Sibuyan Sea and is currently classified as a Tropical Storm.
Nevertheless, the storm made landfall in Eastern Samar province as a category 3 cyclone.
An emergency operation center was established by the Government in Borongan. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are clearing roads and the airport in Cataraman, Northern Samar.
The Government is organizing assessment teams to visit the more remote areas near where the cyclone first made landfall to evaluate the extent of the damage and assess the humanitarian needs.
Preliminary reports indicate that over 1 million people were affected by the cyclone, but that figure is sure to rise as the storm continues to move through the archipelago.
- 1 million people affected
SRI LANKA
Floods, high winds, and landslides have affected over 90,000 people in 15 of the 25 districts of the country. Seven people have died and over 12,000 are living in 96 safety centers. Over 140 houses are destroyed with another 3,400 damaged.
- 7 deaths 12,000 people displaced
MALDIVES
On Friday, 5 Dec, an estimated 100,000 people in Male’ were left without drinking water after a fire at the Male' Water and Sewerages Company (MWSC) caused the water supply to be cut off. The response to the water crisis was swift with authorities providing bottled water free of charge. Additional assistance was provided by the Governments of India, Sri Lanka, the United States and China. An estimated 180 tons of rain water is being pumped from the UN Building and treated before being released for public use.
Government offices and schools remain closed in the capital as the water crisis enters its third day.
- 100,000 people affected
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
A 6.8M earthquake struck about 70km off the west coast of Bougainville on 7 Dec. There are no reports yet of damage or casualties.