There is an urgent need to help our communities receive accurate and reliable earliest possible warnings during Natural disaster, says director of Fiji Meteorological Services, Ravind Kumar.

“Therefore, the urgent need to help our communities receive the accurate and reliable earliest possible warnings during these events is vital,” he said.

Mr Kumar was speaking at the opening of the second ‘Regional Training on Instrument Maintenance and Calibration of Meteorological Instruments’ at the Fiji Meteorological Services Centre in Nadi on Monday.

“Various levels of drought and floods are a major concern in the region due mostly to the frequency of El Nino and La Nina events and tropical cyclones. These events have caused widespread impact on our communities and are fresh under our eyes.”

Mr Kumar said a collaborative effort was needed to provide better disaster risk reduction plans.

Japan International Co-operation Agency Fiji Office Assistant Resident Representative Hideki Sawada said: “JICA has also dispatched two instruments and inspections experts from the Japan Meteorological Agency, Mr Yukihiro Nomura and Mr Satoshi Hagiya who would be conducting the training for two weeks. Both have a vast experience in field of calibration and inspections of Meteorological stations.”

13 Pacific Island representatives will be taking part in the two-week workshop.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback:  litia.tikomailepanoni@fijisun.com.fj