Blog Final

There are 2 dangerous disasters that are more common than the other disasters for Fiji. The first would be the Earthquakes. Fiji is seismically active which means they experience many earthquakes weekly/monthly, most of them occur mainly on the edges of the plate and in the ocean. Instrumental historical records have existed from the late 19th century up to the present for Fiji. From the numerous data provided in the report, it goes to show that the recurrence intervals "along even the most active seismic belts surrounding the Fiji Islands exceed the historical records." Which says that the repetition of events along the Fiji Fracture Zone can't be resolved. Another study in the report by Everingham goes to say that earthquakes of magnitude of 7 or higher occur every 15-21 years. Earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or higher happens every 2.5-6 years.



The second and arguable most dangerous disaster for Fiji would be Cyclones, they are the most common and dangerous occurring events in Fiji. Fiji's Cyclone season runs from November through April, but some cyclones do take place outside of the season. In the past Fiji's cyclone season would be much shorter. The country itself would only see around 2-3 cyclones every year. Due to climate change, the cyclone frequency has doubled in the last decade. This even brought about one of the biggest Cyclones ever recorded not only throughout Fiji's history, but worldwide.



There are 3 big measures that can help address Earthquakes in Fiji. The First measure would be an Earthquake Education program, this program could be implemented through schools, medical programs, and even the news at a minimal cost to the Government as a bonus. The Second measure would be the addition of more stringent building codes throughout Fiji. In most cases of earthquakes, the adequacy of construction is a "major factor controlling the damage and loss of life". The Third measure would be Long-Term Seismicity Observation.  This should be modernized and continued/supported by the Fiji government and its overseas aid programs. In the future this would play a huge part in helping to procure estimates of seismic potential along the plate boundaries surrounding Fiji.

There are also 3 big measures that I believe can help address Cyclones in Fiji. The First Measure is to update and regulate building rules. Many of the building structures in Fiji are very outdated or unstable such as straw huts in many locations. These should be revisited and given priority as they play a big part in maintaining safety. The Second Measure would be the construction of many safehouses. There are many secluded areas throughout Fiji where it could be hard for people to receive help or services during hazards. These safehouses could hold backup supplies, amenities, and services through a manual generator power supply that could keep the people in good health during and after the Cyclones. The Third Measure would be a Cyclone research and study program. This program would play a major part in helping Fiji plan and prepare for future Cyclones by predicting or spotting them earlier.


Plate_Tectonic.pdf (mrd.gov.fj)

Natural Disasters in Fiji (go-fiji.com)

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