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| Fiji Declares a State of Natural Disaster in the Wake of a Fierce Cyclone | Fiji Declares a State of Natural Disaster in the Wake of a Fierce Cyclone |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| SYDNEY — Government officials declared a state of natural disaster in Fiji after a cyclone tore through the archipelago on Saturday, destroying villages on islands in the east of the country. By late last night, news reports said, the death toll had risen to three as authorities continued to assess the damage. | |
| Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama described Cyclone Winston, a Category 5 cyclone with winds up to 143 miles per hour and gusts up to 202 miles per hour, as the most powerful such storm in the country’s recorded history. | Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama described Cyclone Winston, a Category 5 cyclone with winds up to 143 miles per hour and gusts up to 202 miles per hour, as the most powerful such storm in the country’s recorded history. |
| Akapusi Tuifagalele, the director of the National Disaster Management Office, said by telephone Sunday that the worst-affected areas were the outlying islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. | Akapusi Tuifagalele, the director of the National Disaster Management Office, said by telephone Sunday that the worst-affected areas were the outlying islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. |
| “The eastern division has felt the brunt of the cyclone,” he said. “We know there are trees down, roofs off, and we have declared a national state of natural disaster to keep the community safe,” Mr. Tuifagalele said. “Emergency workers need to be able to clear roads and move debris.” | “The eastern division has felt the brunt of the cyclone,” he said. “We know there are trees down, roofs off, and we have declared a national state of natural disaster to keep the community safe,” Mr. Tuifagalele said. “Emergency workers need to be able to clear roads and move debris.” |
| Power lines are down and communications with outlying islands is patchy, he said. Government officials are to meet later Sunday to assess the damage and begin the recovery effort. | Power lines are down and communications with outlying islands is patchy, he said. Government officials are to meet later Sunday to assess the damage and begin the recovery effort. |
| A curfew was enforced Saturday to ensure that residents remained indoors. Mr. Tuifagalele said it was likely schools would remain closed for a week. He said most of the buildings in Suva, the country’s capital, appeared to have only minor damage. Suva is on the island of Viti Levu, southwest of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. | A curfew was enforced Saturday to ensure that residents remained indoors. Mr. Tuifagalele said it was likely schools would remain closed for a week. He said most of the buildings in Suva, the country’s capital, appeared to have only minor damage. Suva is on the island of Viti Levu, southwest of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. |
| Mr. Tuifagalele said that one elderly man on an island in the east of the country was killed when a roof collapsed on him. | Mr. Tuifagalele said that one elderly man on an island in the east of the country was killed when a roof collapsed on him. |
| Raijeli Nicole, the Suva-based regional director of the Pacific for the aid group Oxfam, said that many Fijians in rural areas lived in simple structures. “There are fears the damage is likely to be significant right across Fiji,” Ms. Nicole said. | Raijeli Nicole, the Suva-based regional director of the Pacific for the aid group Oxfam, said that many Fijians in rural areas lived in simple structures. “There are fears the damage is likely to be significant right across Fiji,” Ms. Nicole said. |