Fiji storm: Death toll 29, massive reconstruction required (Updated Tuesday)

Officials hope the death toll from super-storm Winston, now at 29, is nearly final. Aerial surveys indicate a massive reconstruction effort will be needed.

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Tuesday morning update

Fiji storm: Death toll 29, massive reconstruction required

Suva, Fiji, AFP – The death toll from Fiji's super-cyclone hit 29 on Tuesday, with officials saying the Pacific nation's recovery from the devastating storm could take months.

As aid efforts intensified, communications were established with some of the worst-hit remote communities, revealing the scale of the disaster.

"The official death toll now is 29, another eight bodies were found on the island of Koro since yesterday," government spokesman Ewan Perrin told Radio New Zealand in a phone interview.

"We are expecting it to rise but we're hoping it's going to rise by a very small number."

About 8,500 people are still sheltering in evacuation centres and Perrin said some villages had hardly any buildings still standing.

"We're still trying to get people on the ground in these areas to do a detailed assessment of the damage. We're just taking it day-by day," he said.

"In some places people are going to be displaced for months because they've lost everything."

"We haven't been able to make contact with all parts of Fiji, although with the assistance of the New Zealand Air Force we've managed to do aerial inspections across almost all of the islands," Perrin added.

"There's considerable damage of course across the top of the main island (Viti Levu) and the island of Koro, which took pretty much a direct hit."

Monday evening update

Death toll now 20

Suva, Fiji, AFP – The death toll from super-typhoon Winston has climbed to 20, with officials warning it could rise further as reports trickle in from devastated remote communities.

"The images emerging from early aerial assessments of affected areas are truly heartbreaking, leaving little doubt about the ferocity of this cyclone," said the UN's Fiji coordinator Osnat Lubrani.

"It is clear from these catastrophic impacts that Fiji is facing a long road to recovery."

The official body count went from six to 20 as communications were slowly restored to affected communities.

"(It) may rise further as police are still trying to get confirmation on some missing persons reports," said National Disaster Management Office director Akapusi Tuifagalele.

Monday morning update

Tourists flee Fiji after cyclone disaster

Suva, Fiji, AFP – International tourists began fleeing cyclone-devastated Fiji on Monday amid fears the death toll from the most powerful storm to ever hit the Pacific island nation is set to rise steeply.

The death toll from the super-cyclone that hit Fiji over the weekend has risen from six to 17, Care Australia said Monday, citing Fijian government officials.

"Care Australia can confirm that figure of 17 dead," a Care spokesman told AFP after a briefing with disaster management officials in Suva.

The official body count from severe tropical cyclone Winston stood at six but the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported at least 10 were dead, with fears for another seven fishermen missing at sea.

The super-storm lashed the popular tourist destination overnight Saturday, packing gusts of 325 kilometres (202 miles) per hour.

It was the first maximum category five cyclone to hit Fiji and left a trail of destruction, flattening scores of homes and crippling infrastructure.

Oxfam's Pacific regional director Raijeli Nicole said some of the remote communities that bore the brunt of the storm had still not been heard from and officials feared the worst.

"The Fijians are desperately trying to repair severed lines of communication, but they hold grave fears that the news waiting for them will be dire," she said.

"Given the intensity of the storm and the images we have seen so far, there are strong concerns that the death toll won't stop climbing today and that hundreds of people will have seen their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed."

International tourists caught up in the disaster began to leave as flights resumed at Nadi airport after a two-day suspension.

Air New Zealand confirmed one of its aircraft departed at 9.30am (2130 Sunday GMT) and other carriers including Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Fiji Airways were also expected to begin operations again.

Fiji's economy relies on tourism and the island chain is a major destination for Australians and New Zealanders.

Melbourne man Jeremy Bree told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he heard trees being ripped from the ground as he sat out the storm in a hotel at Denaru on the main island Viti Levu.

"It was pretty amazing just looking out and seeing the wind gusts just absolutely buffeting the trees," he said.

Sunday afternoon update

Death toll rises

Suva, Fiji, AFP – Fiji began a massive clean-up on Sunday after the most powerful cyclone in the Pacific island nation's history left a trail of destruction, killing five people and crippling vital infrastructure.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and the Red Cross said five (now revised upwards to six) people were killed.

Aid agencies admitted they simply had no idea about the full extent of the destruction, as Fijians shared pictures on social media of roofless houses, flooded streets and metal signposts bent over by the wild winds.

Save the Children Fiji chief Iris Low-McKenzie said it was too early to assess the impact on outlying islands, although unconfirmed reports said thousands of homes had been destroyed and entire villages flattened.

"I'm especially concerned about the remote communities in outlying areas that we haven't been able to contact yet," she said.

"Until communications are re-established and we assess the damage, we won't know the full extent of the situation."

The capital Suva escaped the full fury of the storm but Low-McKenzie said it was still a terrifying experience.

"I've never experienced anything like this," she said. "The noise was frightening as roofs were blown off homes and trees were ripped out by their roots."

Sunday morning update

Fiji cleans up after 'strongest ever' cyclone

Suva, Fiji, AFP –  Fiji began a massive clean-up on Sunday after the most powerful cyclone in its history battered the Pacific island nation, leaving a trail of destruction.

The category five super-storm lashed the popular tourist destination overnight Saturday, packing wind gusts approaching 300 kilometres (185 miles) per hour, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

At least one man was killed by flying debris on Koro Island, the Fiji village news website reported, with aid agencies saying it was too early to assess the impact on other remote islands.

Severe tropical cyclone Winston is the only category five storm system to ever hit Fiji.

"It is being described as one of the most powerful in recorded history... as a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind," Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said in a national address late Saturday.

Bainimarama declared a state of natural disaster, to remain in place for one month, and the government imposed a curfew "to ensure the safety of all Fijians".

Falling trees cut power and blocked roads on the main island of Viti Levu, where all flights were cancelled as high winds buffeted Nadi international airport.

Many residents spent the night huddled in evacuation centres where they were given food and water.
Suva resident Danny Southcombe said the capital escaped the brunt of the storm but was still brought to a standstill.

"It's not too bad here in Suva. We weren't that badly damaged, just a few panels flew off the house," he told AFP.

"It's pretty calm now but when I look around all I can see is trees on the road."

The acting head of the Red Cross' Pacific office Ahmad Sami said a proper damage assessment would take time.

"But we anticipate that humanitarian needs will be very high," he told AFP.

"This is the first time that Fiji has experienced a cyclone of this magnitude in their history, a category five, so we're still trying to find out the figures."

He said priorities were restoring power and repairing damaged homes, as well as maintaining drinking water supplies in more than 700 evacuation centres.

The Fiji Meteorological Office said it had moved out to sea about 230 kilometres west of Nadi by mid-morning Sunday, although the islands could still expect strong winds, heavy rains and powerful swells.

Saturday updates

20:15

CNN has just reported that wind speeds have reached 285km/h with gusts of up to an incredible 350km/h, making Winston the worst storm to ever hit the southern Pacific. Fortunately, the storm is moving quickly and the worst has likely past the capital Suva. Next to be hit, however, will be the country's biggest airport.

Evening update

Night has fallen in Fiji and CNN reports that Tropical Cyclone Winston is now making landfall. The capital Suva is without electricity and the island is under a curfew.

So far, however, the website of the Fiji Times news service is still operating. Thus, you can follow updates there. A map is obviously useful and you can find detailed maps on the internet.

Fiji battens down as severe cyclone Winston nears

Suva, Fiji, AFP – Hundreds of evacuation centres were activated across Fiji Saturday as severe tropical cyclone Winston intensified near the Pacific island nation.

The powerful Category 5 storm, with average winds of 220 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 315 kilometres per hour, was forecast to hit land late in the day, according to the Fiji meteorological office.

National Disaster Management Director Akapusi Tuifagalele told the Fijilive website that 758 evacuation centres had been prepared.

"We are prepared to face a very strong cyclone and are urging people all over the country to be prepared as well," he said.

"Our officers are stationed in every part of the country to assist our people and evacuation centres have been set up for people who may be at risk in their respective homes."

Tuifagalele said people were urged to take necessary precautionary measures at the earliest opportunity.

Winston has been moving around the South Pacific for a week, skirting around Vanuatu and Tonga and has previously taken aim at Fiji before veering away.

The UN humanitarian agency UNOCHA said it was ready to support the disaster management office if required.

Winston had the potential to bring "destructive winds, heavy rains, dangerous storm surge and a high risk of both flash and river flooding", UNOCHA said in a statement.

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