Worst cyclone in decades hits Fiji

Cyclone Tomas has drifted away from the Pacific Island nation, leaving behind destroyed houses and crops. With reports of deaths and 17 missing Australian citizens, the country is now trying to repair the devastation the cyclone has reaped.

Cyclone Tomas hit the island nation of Fiji on Monday and Tuesday, with winds of up to 200km an hour pushing 17,000 people to evacuate their homes. The category-four cyclone caused Fiji to declare a 30-day state of emergency in the Northern and Eastern divisions on Tuesday, with military leader Commodore Voreqe Bainimarma calling the damage “overwhelming,” the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Australia and New Zealand governments have pledged $1 million in aid and sent military aircraft to the islands with relief supplies. Australia’s High Commission in Fiji’s capital, Suva is still trying to contact all Australian citizens registered as living in the northern division. Of the 52 registered, the Commission has been spoken to 35 of them, but is currently unable to reach the remaining 17. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that “communications in the area are still down,” as the country attempts to repair the damage. Cyclone Tomas hit eastern Lau group of islands the most, as well as the second largest island of Fiji, Vanua Levu. The French Pacific Islands of Wallis and Futuna also felt the brunt of the storm, with 80% of crops on Futuna wiped out and about half on Wallis. Public services and schools in the Fijian islands were all closed and flights were grounded on Monday and Tuesday. International flights are now running on schedule but domestic flights are suspended until local airfields have all been checked. The Fiji Red Cross has deployed 10 teams to Vanua Levu with basic supplies including tarpaulins, clothing and water containers. "The damage that we're anticipating is mostly in terms of houses being destroyed or partially damaged from wind," said the disaster coordinator, Mr Vuli Gauna. He also mentioned that a navy ship would leave Suva today to assess damage inflicted on the northern island of Cikobia. Australia and New Zealand are apparently considering offering more assistance after the damage has been assessed. This is said to be the worst cyclone Fiji has experienced in decades. Reports of deaths have reached the National Disaster Management Office, though numbers are still unconfirmed. Mortuaries in the CWM hospital in Suva and Lautoka Hospital have reported overcrowding of bodies. Ministry of Health spokesman Iliesa Tora told the Fiji Times that the timely donation of freezer containers from AusAid was crucial. "A freezer container each will be placed at the CWM Hospital in Suva and the Lautoka Hospital. Both hospitals have recorded full mortuaries in the past two days," he said. He reported that the Nadi and Wainibokasi hospitals recorded full morgues too. According to the Times Online, however, one woman drowned in rough seas off Vanua Levu on Sunday as the cyclone approached. Ms Tamarisi Tabua, 31, drowned when she was taking part in a cultural ceremony on the island of Labasa with her family. Her sister told the Fiji Times that she was swept out by huge waves and “then the sea swallowed her.” According to the Fiji Meteorological Service senior weather forecaster Matt Boterhovern, the “thing to watch out for” is moderate to heavy swells on the east coasts over the next few days. "A lot of the storm surge when the cyclone went through caused a lot of damage in those islands out there and they just have to be cautious of the heavy swells," Mr Boterhoven said. The Fiji Times and ANZ bank announced today they will be holding an appeal to help the communities hit by the natural disaster. The Fiji Times has pledged a $15,000 donation, whilst ANZ will announce how much it plans to donate later. "The people of Fiji have an enormous capacity for helping each other, particularly in times of hardship. I'm sure they'll rally to the assistance of their less fortunate. "We're pleased to be able to assist in both donating money and raising awareness of the fund and we ask everyone to give generously," said Fiji Times MD Anne Fussell.