Post by Paddy by Grace on Mar 16, 2010 18:06:46 GMT -7
Fiji declares disaster as Cyclone Tomas destroys homes and crops
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/fiji/7452709/Fiji-declares-disaster-as-Cyclone-Tomas-destroys-homes-and-crops.html
Fiji has declared a state of disaster in the country's cyclone-hit north and east as reports of storm damage rose sharply and authorities warned that the death toll could rise
The National Disaster Council, led by military leader and self-appointed prime minister Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama, met as the category four Cyclone Tomas continued to batter the South Pacific nation.
"The National Disaster Council has declared a state of disaster in the northern division and eastern division," National Disaster Management Office operations officer Anthony Blake said.
"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," Mr Blake told reporters.
Fiji authorities had received reports of "a few" deaths in the devastating cyclone, National Disaster Management Office director Pajiliai Dobui said
"I think some lost their lives but it is just a few but what we have been hearing from some of the islands is the devastation and the wind and the storm surges were too much.
"Those who have experienced other cyclones say this is the longest and the strongest they have come across - and the most destructive," Mr Dobui said.
He said the number of dead could not be confirmed by police until communications were restored with affected islands in the Lau group and the island of Taveuni, to the east of the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Authorities were particularly concerned about the northern islands of Cikobia and Qelelevu, because there had been no communications since they were hit by the cyclone on Monday.
So far the only death linked to the cyclone was that of a woman who drowned in the surf during the weekend.
Meanwhile, telecommunications and electricity were down in many parts of Vanua Levu and there was damage to some healthcare facilities and roads, Mr Blake said.
More than 1000 people have evacuated their homes as the storm damaged buildings and crops and cut communications and power, while many low-lying areas were flooded.
Fiji Tropical Cyclone Centre senior forecaster Matt Boterhoven said there had been several instances of storm damage.
"We had a report this morning from Lakeba, one of the larger islands in the Lau group, that two villages were flooded and some people had to be moved to higher ground," he told Radio New Zealand.
A sea wall also collapsed on another island in the group, he said.
"A lot of sea flooding is occurring and it's causing a significant impact in the northern and eastern parts of the Fiji group this morning," he said.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/fiji/7452709/Fiji-declares-disaster-as-Cyclone-Tomas-destroys-homes-and-crops.html
Fiji has declared a state of disaster in the country's cyclone-hit north and east as reports of storm damage rose sharply and authorities warned that the death toll could rise
The National Disaster Council, led by military leader and self-appointed prime minister Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama, met as the category four Cyclone Tomas continued to batter the South Pacific nation.
"The National Disaster Council has declared a state of disaster in the northern division and eastern division," National Disaster Management Office operations officer Anthony Blake said.
"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," Mr Blake told reporters.
Fiji authorities had received reports of "a few" deaths in the devastating cyclone, National Disaster Management Office director Pajiliai Dobui said
"I think some lost their lives but it is just a few but what we have been hearing from some of the islands is the devastation and the wind and the storm surges were too much.
"Those who have experienced other cyclones say this is the longest and the strongest they have come across - and the most destructive," Mr Dobui said.
He said the number of dead could not be confirmed by police until communications were restored with affected islands in the Lau group and the island of Taveuni, to the east of the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Authorities were particularly concerned about the northern islands of Cikobia and Qelelevu, because there had been no communications since they were hit by the cyclone on Monday.
So far the only death linked to the cyclone was that of a woman who drowned in the surf during the weekend.
Meanwhile, telecommunications and electricity were down in many parts of Vanua Levu and there was damage to some healthcare facilities and roads, Mr Blake said.
More than 1000 people have evacuated their homes as the storm damaged buildings and crops and cut communications and power, while many low-lying areas were flooded.
Fiji Tropical Cyclone Centre senior forecaster Matt Boterhoven said there had been several instances of storm damage.
"We had a report this morning from Lakeba, one of the larger islands in the Lau group, that two villages were flooded and some people had to be moved to higher ground," he told Radio New Zealand.
A sea wall also collapsed on another island in the group, he said.
"A lot of sea flooding is occurring and it's causing a significant impact in the northern and eastern parts of the Fiji group this morning," he said.