B4-1362, 1363 and 1391/95

Resolution on Hurricane Tanya, which has struck the central group of the Azores

The European Parliament,

A.whereas in the night of 1 to 2 November 1995 the Hurricane Tanya struck the central group of the Azores islands, with violent gusts of wind, causing widespread damage, especially on the islands of Faial, Pico, Terceira and S. Jorge,

B.whereas the winds reached 170 km/h in some areas, one Spanish fisherman was drowned and several people were injured,

C.whereas the damage to this most remote region of the EU has not yet been fully evaluated, but has been enormous: boats and ships have been damaged and sunk, equipment has been destroyed, communication, electricity, telephone and water supply networks have been damaged, streets and roads have been blocked, housing and educational establishments damaged, in particular the Ocean and Fisheries Department of the University of the Azores, people have been left homeless, and enormous harm has been done to crops (fruit and vegetables), pasture land, and the stockbreeding sector,

1.Expresses its solidarity with the people of the Azores, and in particular with those who have lost their homes or livelihood;

2.Calls on the Commission, in collaboration with the regional and local authorities, to put in hand emergency action as soon as possible to help the worst hit areas, with a view to helping to repair damage to infrastructures, housing and public buildings affected, and to providing help for fishermen whose vessels have been sunk and damaged, and for the neediest victims;

3.Draws the attention of the Commission and the authorities of the Member States once more to the imperative need to provide the disaster prevention and relief services with technical and human resources;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and Council, to the Government and Assembly of the Azores Autonomous Region and to the Region's Chambers and Municipal Assemblies.