Fiji cyclone death toll climbs to 29

The death toll from a ferocious cyclone which tore through Fiji over the weekend has risen to 18 as authorities on Monday began to get a grasp on the scale of the disaster and deploy aid to hard-hit outer islands.

UNICEF New Zealand has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to respond to the severe devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston in Fiji.

Aerial footage of outlying islands taken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and posted on the Fiji government’s official website, showed whole villages flattened and flooded after tropical cyclone Winston tore through late on Saturday with wind gusts of up to 325km/h.

“Given the intensity of the storm and the images we have seen so far, there are strong concerns that the death toll won’t stop climbing today and that hundreds of people will have seen their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed”, she said.

A cyclone that has devastated Fiji could slowly make its way to New Zealand next week – but scientists say it’ll be much weaker by the time it arrives.

Authorities were urging people to remain indoors as they cleared fallen trees and power lines.

Maidaborn says, “So many New Zealanders have strong connections to Fiji and we are appealing to each and every Kiwi to help us get Fiji back on its feet once more”.

The global airport at Nadi also reopened on Monday, February 21, allowing worldwide tourists caught up in the disaster to return home. Australia has so far pledged 5 million Australian dollars ($3.6 million) in aid and New Zealand has pledged 2 million New Zealand dollars ($1.3 million).

Four helicopters which will help carry out disaster assessments are also on their way and a RAAF Orion surveillance aircraft is on standby.

He said relief agencies, including Oxfam and the Red Cross, have been helping with humanitarian efforts and that the Fijian government has set up a disaster relief fund.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said yesterday that it is on stand-by to provide emergency supplies and additional personnel to support the Government as it works to determine critical needs.

“There are Fijians out there who are without water, without a roof over their heads, without food and without essential services”.