Editing History of Tuvalu (section)

==Tsunami & Cyclones==
{{Main|Geography of Tuvalu}}

The low level of islands makes them very exposed to the effects of a tsunami or cyclone. [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] was struck by a giant wave on 16 February 1882;<ref name="TAH10">{{cite book |first1=Sotaga |last1=Pape |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Laracy |title= Tuvalu: A History |year= 1983 |publisher= Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu |pages=76|chapter=Chapter 10 – Nui }}</ref> earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurring in the basin of the Pacific Ocean – the Pacific [[Ring of Fire]] – are possible causes of a [[tsunami]]. Tuvalu experienced an average of three [[tropical cyclone]]s per decade between the 1940s and 1970s, however eight occurred in the 1980s.<ref name="JCon">{{cite journal| last=Connell |first=John |url=http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/38764/1/v27n1-1-36.pdf |title=Vulnerable Islands: Climate Change, Techonic Change, and Changing Livelihoods in the Western Pacific  |journal=The Contemporary Pacific|volume=27|issue=1 |year=2015|pages=1–36|doi=10.1353/cp.2015.0014 |hdl=10125/38764|s2cid=162562633 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> The impact of individual cyclones is subject to variables including the force of the winds and also whether a cyclone coincides with high tides.

George Westbrook recorded a cyclone that struck [[Funafuti]] in 1883.<ref name="BKE">{{cite journal |author= McLean, R.F. and Munro, D. |url= http://uspaquatic.library.usp.ac.fj/gsdl/collect/spjnas/index/assoc/HASH0199.dir/doc.pdf |title= Late 19th century Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in Tuvalu |journal= South Pacific Journal of Natural History |volume= 11 |year= 1991 |pages= 213–219 |access-date= 10 April 2019 |archive-date= 10 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190410113306/http://uspaquatic.library.usp.ac.fj/gsdl/collect/spjnas/index/assoc/HASH0199.dir/doc.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> A cyclone struck Nukulaelae on 17–18 March 1886.<ref name="BKE"/> Captain [[Edward H. M. Davis|Edward Davis]] of HMS ''Royalist'', who visited the Ellice Group in 1892, recorded in the ship's diary that in February 1891 the Ellice Group was devastated by a severe cyclone. A cyclone caused severe damage to the islands in 1894.<ref name="TAH2">{{cite book |first1=Pasoni |last1=Taafaki |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Laracy |title= Tuvalu: A History |year= 1983 |publisher= Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu |pages=27 |chapter=Chapter 2 – The Old Order}}</ref> In 1972 [[Cyclone Bebe]] caused severe damage to Funafuti.<ref name="HB72">{{cite book |last1=Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank)|title= The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu |date=5 October 2009}}</ref> [[Cyclone Ofa]] had a major impact on Tuvalu in late January and early February 1990. During the 1996–97 cyclone season, [[Cyclone Gavin]], [[Cyclone Hina|Hina]] and [[Cyclone Keli|Keli]] passed through the islands of Tuvalu.<ref name="STD">{{cite report|author=Koop, Neville L|author2=Fiji Meteorological Service|type=Mariners Weather Log|date=Winter 1991|title=Samoa Depression|oclc=648466886|volume=35|issue=1|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Oceanographic Data Service|issn=0025-3367|page=53|editor=DeAngellis, Richard M}}</ref><ref name="Tuv Disaster">{{cite report|publisher=Australian Overseas Disaster Response Organisation|url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/JB-DM_148_TUV_1991_disaster_workshop_report.pdf|title=Report on the disaster preparedness workshop held in Funafuti, Tuvalu, 14 – 17 October, 1991|isbn=1875405054|pages=2–3, 6|date=April 1992|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201231448/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/JB-DM_148_TUV_1991_disaster_workshop_report.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cyclone of 1883===
George Westbrook,<ref name="PIM1931"/> a trader on Funafuti, recorded a cyclone that struck on 23–24 December 1883. At the time the cyclone struck he was the sole inhabitant of Funafuti as Tema, the Samoan missionary, had taken everyone else to [[Funafala]] to work on erecting a church. The buildings on Funafuti were destroyed, including the church and the trade stores of George Westbrook and [[Alfred Restieaux]]. Little damage had occurred at Funafala and the people returned to rebuild at Funafuti.<ref name="BKE"/><ref name="H83"/>

===Cyclone Bebe 1972===
[[File:Ocean side Funafuti.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Ocean side of [[Funafuti]] atoll showing the storm dunes, the highest point on the atoll.]]
In 1972 Funafuti was in the path of [[Cyclone Bebe]] during the [[1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season]]. Cyclone Bebe was a pre-season [[tropical cyclone]] that impacted the [[Gilbert Islands|Gilbert]], [[Ellice Islands]], and [[Fiji]] island groups.<ref name="BOM1975">Bureau of Meteorology (1975) ''Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971–1972'' Australian Government Publishing Service</ref> First spotted on 20 October, the system intensified and grew in size through 22 October. At about 4 p.m. on Saturday 21 October sea water was bubbling through the coral on the airfield with the water reaching a height of about 4–5 feet high. Cyclone Bebe continued through Sunday 22 October. The Ellice Islands Colony's ship ''Moanaraoi'' was in the lagoon and survived, however 3 tuna boats were wrecked. Waves broke over the atoll. Five people died, two adults and a 3-month-old child were swept away by waves, and two sailors from the tuna boats were drowned.<ref name="HB72"/> Cyclone Bebe knocked down 95% of the houses and trees.<ref name="JRBebe">{{cite web| last =Resture| first =Jane|title=Hurricane Bebe Left 19 People Dead And Thousands Misplaced In Fiji and Tuvalu| publisher= Janeresture.com|date =14 October 2022| url=https://www.janeresture.com/hurricane-bebe/| access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Funafuti and [[Funafala]] that was about {{convert|10|mi}} long, and about {{convert|10|to|20|ft|m}} thick at the bottom.<ref name="HB72"/><ref name="MJE">{{cite journal |author= Maragos J.E., Baines G.B., Beveridge P.J.|title= Tropical Cyclone creates a New Land Formation on Funafuti |journal= Science  |volume= 181|year= 1973 |issue= 4105 |pages=1161–4|doi= 10.1126/science.181.4105.1161|pmid= 17744290 |s2cid= 35546293 }}</ref><ref name="BGBKE">{{cite journal |author= Baines, G.B.K., Beveridge, P.J. & Maragos, J.E.|title= Storms and island building at Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands |journal= Proceedings of the 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symposium |year= 1974 }}</ref><ref name="NG15">{{cite web| last = Warne | first = Kennedy | work= National Geographic |title= Will Pacific Island Nations Disappear as Seas Rise? Maybe Not – Reef islands can grow and change shape as sediments shift, studies show |date=13 February 2015|url= http://news-beta.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/150213-tuvalu-sopoaga-kench-kiribati-maldives-cyclone-marshall-islands/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150214031223/http://news-beta.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/150213-tuvalu-sopoaga-kench-kiribati-maldives-cyclone-marshall-islands/|url-status= dead|archive-date= 14 February 2015| access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> The cyclone submerged Funafuti and sources of drinking water were contaminated as a result of the system's storm surge and fresh water flooding; with severe damages to houses and installations.<ref name="PIM1973-5">{{cite web| last =| first =  | work= 44(5) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Life bounces back in the Ellice|date =1 May 1966|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-336976092/view?sectionId=nla.obj-340950828&partId=nla.obj-337014010#page/n22/mode/1up| access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>

===Cyclone Pam 2015===
Prior to the formation of [[Cyclone Pam]], flooding from [[king tide]]s, which peaked at {{convert|3.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} on 19 February 2015, caused considerable road damage across the multi-island nation of Tuvalu.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=24 February 2015|access-date=17 March 2015|title=Tuvalu surveys road damage after king tides|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/266995/tuvalu-surveys-road-damage-after-king-tides}}</ref> Between 10 and 11 March, tidal surges estimated to be {{convert|3|–|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} associated with the cyclone swept across the low-lying islands of [[Tuvalu]]. The [[atoll]]s of [[Nanumea]], [[Nanumanga]], [[Niutao]], [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]], [[Nukufetau]], [[Nukulaelae]], and [[Vaitupu]] were affected.<ref name="TuvaluReport">{{cite report|work=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=16 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2015|title=Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam|url=http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDRTV001dref.pdf}}</ref><ref name="RNZI191">{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= One Tuvalu island evacuated after flooding from Pam|date =18 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268988/one-tuvalu-island-evacuated-after-flooding-from-pam| access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> Significant damage to agriculture and infrastructure occurred.<ref name="TuvaluRNZ1"/> The outermost islands were hardest hit, with one flooded in its entirety.<ref name="TuvaluFJMarch16">{{cite news|agency=[[Radio New Zealand]] |newspaper=The Fiji Times|date=16 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2015|title=Emergency supplies being mobilised for Tuvalu|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=298438|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092423/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=298438|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> A state of emergency was subsequently declared on 13 March.<ref name="FenS15">{{cite web |title=Press Release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister |publisher=Fenui News |date=13 March 2015 |url=https://www.un.int/tuvalu/sites/www.un.int/files/Tuvalu/Documents/GA/fenui_mar_13_2015_special_edition.pdf |access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="TuvaluRNZ1">{{cite web|publisher=Radio New Zealand International|date=14 March 2015|access-date=15 March 2015|title=State of emergency in Tuvalu|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268612/state-of-emergency-in-tuvalu}}</ref> Water supplies on Nui were contaminated by seawater and rendered undrinkable.<ref name="TuvaluReport"/> An estimated 45&nbsp;percent of the nation's nearly 10,000&nbsp;people were displaced, according to [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]] [[Enele Sopoaga]].<ref name=rnzi>{{cite news|title=45 percent of Tuvalu population displaced – PM |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268686/45-percent-of-tuvalu-population-displaced-pm |work=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |date=15 March 2015|access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref>

New Zealand started providing aid to [[Tuvalu]] on 14 March.<ref name="RW1">{{cite web|author=Joshua Kuku|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=14 March 2015|access-date=15 March 2015|title=Aid effort stepped up after monster Vanuatu cyclone|location=Suva, Fiji|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/aid-effort-stepped-after-monster-vanuatu-cyclone}}</ref><ref name="RNZI17">{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= International assistance due today in Tuvalu|date =17 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268866/international-assistance-due-today-in-tuvalu| access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref> Owing to the severity of damage in the nation, the local chapter of the Red Cross enacted an emergency operation plan on 16 March which would focus on the needs of 3,000&nbsp;people. The focus on the 81,873&nbsp;[[Swiss franc|CHF]] operation was to provide essential non-food items and shelter.<ref name="TuvaluReport"/> Flights carrying these supplies from Fiji began on 17 March.<ref name="RNZI191"/> Prime Minister Sopoaga stated that Tuvalu appeared capable of handling the disaster on its own and urged that international relief be focused on Vanuatu.<ref name="RNZI191"/><ref name="TuvaluFJMarch16"/> Tuvalu's Disaster Coordinator, Suneo Silu, said the priority island is [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] as sources of fresh water were contaminated.<ref name="RNZI191"/> On 17 March, the [[Taiwan]]ese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a donation of US$61,000 in aid to Tuvalu.<ref>{{cite web|agency=[[Central News Agency (Republic of China)|Central News Agency]] |publisher=Focus Taiwan |date=17 March 2015 |title=Taiwan donates US$61,000 to cyclone-hit Tuvalu |location=Taipei, Taiwan |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201503170033.aspx |access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref> UNICEF and Australia also delivered aid to Tuvalu.<ref name="UNNC19">{{cite web| work= UN News Centre |title= UNICEF rushes emergency supplies for cyclone-affected Tuvalu |date =19 March 2015|url= https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50368 | access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="AAPy">{{cite web| agency=Australian Associated Press| title=Aust sends cyclone aid to Tuvalu| date=19 March 2015| url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/26729475/aust-sends-cyclone-aid-to-tuvalu/| access-date=22 March 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191527/https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/26729475/aust-sends-cyclone-aid-to-tuvalu/| archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

As of 22 March, 71 families (40 percent of the population) of Nui were displaced and were living in 3 evacuation centres or with other families and on Nukufetau, 76 people (13 percent of the population) were displaced and were living in 2 evacuation centres.<ref name=RW22>{{cite web|url= http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu-tropical-cyclone-pam-situation-report-no-1-22-march-2015 |title=Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 (as of 22 March 2015)| date =22 March 2015|publisher= Relief Web |access-date= 25 March 2015}}</ref> The Situation Report published on 30 March reported that on Nukufetau all the displaced people had returned to their homes.<ref name=RW30>{{cite web|url= http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu-tropical-cyclone-pam-situation-report-no-2-30-march-2015 |title=Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 2 (as of 30 March 2015)| date =30 March 2015|publisher= Relief Web |access-date= 30 March 2015}}</ref> Nui suffered the most damage of the three central islands (Nui, Nukufetau and Vaitupu);<ref name="UNDP">{{cite web| work= United Nations Development Programme|title= Forgotten paradise under water|date =1 May 2015 |url= https://undp.exposure.co/forgotten-paradise-under-water| access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> with both Nui and Nukufetau suffering the loss of 90% of the crops.<ref name=RW30/> Of the three northern islands (Nanumanga, Niutao, Nanumea), Nanumanga suffered the most damage, with 60–100 houses flooded and damage to the health facility.<ref name=RW30/>