Fiji

Ocean heat fueled Fiji's Cyclone Winston, meteorologists say

“The warmer the sea-surface temperature, the stronger a tropical cyclone can get,” Bob Henson, a meteorologist and climate blogger at Weather Underground, told Al Jazeera in an email. 

“Sea-surface temperatures have been especially warm this year across much of the tropical Pacific, largely as a result of the current El Niño on top of the long-term warming,” Henson said.

ANZ announces relief package for customers impacted by Cyclone Winston

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;

O’Neill offers help to Fiji

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.

Death toll climbs in cyclone ravaged Fiji

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.

Cyclone Winston leaves five dead in Fiji

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.

Winston moves further away from Fiji

After causing much destruction in parts of the country, it was located about 220 kilometres west of Viwa in Yasawa and about 270km west of Nadi at 9am today.

In a weather bulletin issued at 11:38am today, the Fiji Meteorological Service said the cyclone is moving west at about 22km/hr.

Schools "devastated", man dead after Winston

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'

Fijian villages feel Winston's fury

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.

Vast destruction feared as Winston makes landfall on Viti Levu

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.

Air Niugini cancels Fiji flights

Flight PX 084 scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday 21st February will operate from Port Moresby to Honiara, Solomon Islands and back. The Honiara/Nadi sector is temporary suspended until further notice.

Passengers who have been booked to and from Fiji may rebook to travel later or obtain refunds without penalties. Air Niugini is closely monitoring the situation and will advise when Fiji flights resume.

ANG operates three weekly flights to Nadi via Honiara every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.