Fiji has declared a state of disaster as the worst cyclone in decades leaves a trail of destruction through the Pacific Ocean archipelago.
The National Disaster Council, led by the country's interim leader Voreqe Bainimarama met early today as cyclone Tomas, a category four hurricane, continued to batter the country. At least 10,000 people were evacuated from the northern and eastern islands, and a number of people were killed. One woman drowned in rough seas off the island of Vanua Levu as the cyclone approached on Sunday.
"I think some lost their lives but what we have been hearing from some of the islands is the devastation and the wind and the storm surges were too much,"said National Disaster Management Office director Pajiliai Dobui.
National Disaster Management Office operations officer Anthony Blake said: "The National Disaster Council has declared a state of disaster in the northern division and eastern division.
Related Links
News link.....
"We have so far got a tally of over 50 homes destroyed - a very serious issue. We expect these figures to increase for the next few days," he said.
Local man Neil Harrison said he could do little other than watch the huge swell in what was usually a calm bay.
Mr Harrison, who moved from Scotland to Koro Island, east of the main island of Viti Levu four years ago, said conditions after Cyclone Tomas struck were "shocking".
The small island has about 14 villages but Mr Harrison said because of the high winds and downed trees, he could not get out to check on his neighbours.
"We can't go anywhere. There are a lot of trees down. I have tried to reach a couple of villages but we can't get hold of anyone," he said.
Koro is about 100 miles (150 km) from the eye of the cyclone, he said. "God knows what it is like in the middle. If we are 150km from this thing and we are copping what we are getting I really don't know what it is like under the eye. They will be getting twice this."
On Sunday, Tamarisi Tabua, 31, was swept away by huge waves and drowned as she was taking part in a cultural ceremony with her family at Labasa, on the small island of Vanua Levu.
Waves hit her sisters Mereula and Alanieta Evans, nephew Mesake, 10, and niece Fulori, four, and swept them into the bay, according to the Fiji Times newspaper.
Ms Evans said they would have died if it had not been for her sister. "When she got near to me, she threw my daughter to me then the sea swallowed her," she told the Fiji Times.
Widespread damage has been reported on many of the outer islands, with phone lines down and widespread electricity blackouts but Vanua Levu and the main island of Viti Levu have so far escaped relatively unscathed.
Fiji Tropical Cyclone Centre senior forecaster Matt Boterhoven said the cyclone was expected to leave the islands and head to the open ocean in about 24 hours.
Aid might not be able to reach some damaged islands until Thursday, he told Radio New Zealand.
The director of Fiji's disaster management centre, Pajiliai Dobui, said communication has been lost on islands including Taveuni and the Lau group, where the storm was headed.
Mr Doubi said officials would not know what damage had been caused there until Wednesday.
|