Oceania

Many Dead after cyclone “Winston” on Fiji Islands

The cyclone “Winston” has for the destruction and devastation ensured: In the most violent tropical storm, of the Fiji Islands has ever met, are at least 20 people have been killed. The tourists were lucky.

How many people by the cyclone “Winston” in the South Pacific have lost everything, is still unclear. However, the extent of the devastation is becoming clearer. Thousands of homes and some bridges were damaged or destroyed, such as the new Zealand air force after Flying to remote South Pacific Islands documented. According to the latest information be at least 20 people have been killed. The number could further rise, said the head of the Federal emergency management Agency, Akapusi Tuifagalele. The news portal “Fijivillage” reported by at least 21 dead. The aid organisation Care Australia had previously of 17 dead. The number of victims rose in parallel to the restoration of the communication links to the Islands. The police try, information about Missing to get, so Tuifagalele.

Leveled to the ground: Only a few houses kept the tropical storm was

Top speeds of 300km/h

“Winston” was the strongest cyclone ever in the Fiji Islands was measured. He raged into the night Sunday with a top speed of around 300 kilometres per hour. “We have people who have no water, no roof over your head, and no public supply”, announced Prime Minister Voreque Bainimarama on the social network Facebook. “It is our duty to you as quickly as possible to supply.”

The supply of the inhabitants on remote Islands have the highest priority. The electricity was out in Parts of the main Islands, but many of the more than 300 Islands are still isolated from the outside world. In many places paths through landslides buried. At the South end of the island of Taveuni were 90 percent of the houses razed to the ground, reported “FijiVillage”.

In security: even before the cyclone were residents evacuated

Temporary shelters set up

Due to the cyclone were all the schools closed for a week – many of you have been to shelters converted. In total, more than 750 such accommodations set up. The people would have no refuge to be protected from the Wind and rain to protect said Schulmanager Krishna Reddy.

Aid agencies have warned that the true extent of the disaster was not foreseeable, especially on remote Islands. The “Megasturm” could be “catastrophic damage” had said Iris Low-McKenzie, from the charity Save the Children.

Back home: Slow can clean up after “Winston” start

Tourists leave the Islands

Australia and new Zealand were promised a Millionenhilfe for the island nation, with 900,000 residents. All the tourists are in safety, informed tourism Minister, Faiyaz Siddiq Koya with. The majority of the hotels had no serious damage suffered. The international airport of Nadi was again opened, foreign tourists appeared in droves to the Islands to leave. In the year approximately 750,000 visitors to the Fiji Islands, most of them from Australia and new Zealand.

pab/as (afpd, dpa)