Suva: At least 20 people were killed when cyclone Winston hit the former British colony Fiji last week. More than 150 houses were destroyed in its Eastern region alone, which consists of Kadavu Province, Lau Province, Lomaiviti Province and Rotuma, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
"Homes have been destroyed, many low-lying areas have been flooded," Voreqe Bainimarama, the Fijian Prime Minister, said in a statement. "In the aftermath of this great tragedy, many are without power and access to water and are cut off from communication." "This is a time of sorrow, but it will also be a time of action. We will stand united in the face of this disaster," he added.
Officials warn that the death toll would definitely rise as more reports pour in. Around 80 per cent of the country's population have been left without power and all schools have been closed until further notice, as many are being used as evacuation centres. Aid workers admitted that they had no idea of the full extent of the damage, which toppled trees, flooded streets and destroyed metal sign posts.
Save the Children Fiji chief Iris Low-McKenzie said it was too early to assess the full extent of the damage, though the number of houses destroyed is reportedly in the thousands. "I'm especially concerned about the remote communities in outlying areas that we haven't been able to contact. Until communications are re-established and we assess the damage, we won't know the full extent of the damage."
