Cyclone Winston

He commended the government for its efforts to reduce mortality and the numbers of people affected by the strongest cyclone ever to hit the Pacific country.

Harsh winds and torrential rains tore up homes and cut power, water and communications links across the nation of about 900,000 people, although Suva, the capital, escaped the brunt after the storm changed direction at the last minute.

The 10 fatalities were all along the western coast and were caused mainly by flying debris and drowning in storm surges. There were also fears for seven fishermen believed to be missing at sea.

ANZ CEO Pacific & CEO Fiji Vishnu Mohan said: “This is one of the worst cyclones to hit Fiji destroying many towns and villages as well as damaging vital infrastructure. It will take a long time for Fiji to fully recover from this disaster and we want our customers to know that we are here ready to support them.”

ANZ’s customer assistance package includes:

• suspension of all home loan, personal loan and small loan repayments for 60 days;

The death toll from Cyclone Winston, which hit  Fiji over the weekend has risen to at least 20, officials say.

Authorities are assessing damage done and already relief supports from other Pacific island countries have started.

PNG’s High Commission led by Acting High Commissioner Yu Minimbi has yet to send a report back to PNG.

They say they are yet to complete checking on Papua New Guineans registered with the Commission.

And he's warned all countries in the Pacific to prepare for more extreme weather due to climate change.

He also extended an offer to help Fiji recover from the disaster.

 “The category five cyclone Winston, the worst ever experienced in Fiji, is sadly another example of the greatest threat to Pacific Island nations,” O’Neill said.

He said while the region faces pressure from global economic changes, nothing is more threatening to Pacific Island nations than extreme weather exacerbated by climate change.

The chairman of the Ba Mission Hospital has confirmed two people died in the town, and two others are in a serious but stable condition.

Fiji media report five other deaths, including two in Ovalau island, one from Koro Island, one from Tailevu and one from Ra province, in the north of Viti Levu.

The category five Cyclone Winston has been described as the strongest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.

Winston tore through the Fijian mainland and neighbouring smaller islands, bringing wind gusts of up to 325kmh.

Fiji media have reported that Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has announced the new death toll.

The category five cyclone has been described as the strongest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.

Winston tore through the Fijian mainland and neighbouring smaller islands, bringing wind gusts of up to 325kmh.

One of those killed was an elderly man who was hit by flying debris.

Hundreds of people have fled to evacuation centres. A curfew remains in force as the authorities go about assessing the damage.

Homes have been destroyed, power lines are down and trees are blocking roads in many areas after tropical Cyclone Winston swept through the islands with wind gusts of up to 325kmh.

One person is reported so far to have died in the storm - an elderly man who was hit by flying debris - while hundreds have fled to evacuation centres. A curfew remains in force as the authorities go about assessing the damage.

'There's not one house that has not been damaged'

Disaster officials told a local broadcaster that an elderly man on Koro Island died after a roof fell on him.

Two hundred millimetres of rain was due to fall in some areas which could have triggered landslides. Flood warnings were issued for low-lying areas, with tidal surges possible.

Cyclone Winston ravaged the country overnight, but was now slowly moving away and leaving the country to assess the damage as daylight breaks.

The country had spent much of Saturday in lockdown, with transport cancelled and nationwide curfew and state of emergency declared by the government.

Already there are initial reports of severe damage across the country, with reports of houses being flattened and heavy swells washing away sea walls.

Unconfirmed reports suggest one person died when they were struck by falling debris on Koro island, according to local media, but a police spokesperson was unable to confirm reports.