Fiji Declares a State of Disaster

TC WINSTON kills 48, leaves 45,245 displaced

Category 5, Severe Tropical Cyclone WINSTON struck the island nation of Fiji on 20 and 21 February  cutting a path of destruction across the country.

Summary from NDMO SITREP NO. 26

• The cyclone is estimated to be the most severe ever to hit Fiji, and probably the South Pacific.

• 48 people have been confirmed dead, 167 injured [including 45 hospitalized.]

• Some 45,245 people are currently sheltering in 763 evacuation centers.

• 104 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

• 100 per cent of crops are reported destroyed in the worst affected areas.

• Entire communities/villages have been wiped out.

• A 30-day State of Disaster has been declared.

Terminal building in Koro and Vanuabalavu airports are completely destroyed, the fire station in Savusavu is severely damaged.

 

WINSTON Devastates Fiji

TC WINSTON, strongest ever storm to hit Fiji, wreaks destruction across the island nation

Authorities in Fiji say the most powerful storm on record to hit the country has killed at least five people, razing  entire villages and destroying hundreds of homes.

TC WINSTON slammed the tiny nation with 330-km winds, torrential rain and tsunami-like waves of up to 15m, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

The destructive storm prompted the government to impose a nationwide curfew and declare a 30-day state of national disaster, said reports. [The declaration would empower police to arrest people without a warrant.]

Spokesman for Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office told reporters that about 80% of the population were without electricity.

Fiji PM described the storm as “an ordeal of the most grievous kind.”