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Home / World

Cyclone Winston: Dead toll passes 40 as thousands abandon homes

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·NZ Herald·
24 Feb, 2016 09:30 AM3 mins to read

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Residents of Lovu Seaside show the devastating effects Cyclone Winston left on their village.

Relief has poured into cyclone-ravaged Fiji where 42 people are now confirmed dead and thousands have been forced to abandon their homes.

The Government in Suva has declared a state of emergency for 30 days in the wake of the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

In addition to the 42 confirmed as having lost their lives, a 10-month-old baby and three other people are listed as missing.

It is estimated more than 8000 people are now residing in more than 50 evacuation centres.

Today, the Herald visited Lovo Sangham School north of Nadi. In one classroom, four families were living together.

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Sanjogeeta Kiran with her mother at their home in RakiRaki, which was totally destroyed, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji
Sanjogeeta Kiran, right,  with her sister Sulva Kiran and her son Shivendera,10, and 2 year-old Raajeen, all shelted under the house at their home in RakiRaki, which was totally destroyed by cylone Winston
A local repairs his roof in RakiRaki, which was badly damaged, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji
Debris on the ground in Rakiraki, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.
A destroyed home north of Lautoka, which was totally destroyed, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.
A destroyed building north of Tavua, which was totally destroyed, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.
Two young children under a bus shelter, which has a large tree that snapped off in the cyclone and landed on the roof, in the village of Talecake north of Lautoka, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji
Powerlines and poles down along Kings Road north of Lautoka, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.
A destroyed home south of Rakiraki, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.
A destroyed service station in Ba north of Lautoka, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.
Kids just want to have fun - Children play in a creek north of Lautoka, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji and caused loss of lives and extensive damage to the north west side of the Viti Levu in Fiji.

Image 1 of 11: Sanjogeeta Kiran with her mother at their home in RakiRaki, which was totally destroyed, after cyclone Winston hit Fiji

READ MORE
• Cyclone Winston: On the ground as Fiji deals with devastating aftermath

• Chicken coop haven now a prison
• Classrooms packed full with families
• Focus on emergency supplies as recovery begins

A Boeing 757 flew from Ohakea air force base today carrying 35 Army personnel including plumbers, electricians and field engineers as well as Fire Service engineers.

They will work alongside Fijian soldiers clearing debris and repairing buildings.A C-130 Hercules flew from Auckland with more than 16,000kg of aid including shelters, tarpaulins, tools and generators.

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HMNZS Wellington will leave from Auckland tomorrow afternoon and HMNZS Canterbury will leave on Sunday with aid supplies for Fiji.

New Zealand has already contributed $2 million in aid to Fiji since the cyclone struck on the weekend, and a P-3 Orion has been carrying out reconnaissance flights.

World Vision has opened an appeal for Kiwis to donate to relief efforts in Fiji, and to help the charity respond to future emergencies.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has also announced a mayoral fund to provide relief for those affected by the cyclone.

Discover more

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Heartbreaking photos of devastation

23 Feb 08:36 PM
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Cyclone Winston: NZ steps up relief efforts

24 Feb 12:00 AM
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He said the appeal would run alongside local Pacific communities and aid agencies to best help people in Fiji and Tonga.

Meanwhile, Vodafone New Zealand is deploying a team of specially trained personnel with communication equipment to establish an "Instant Network" and assist with recovery.

An Instant Network, made up of suitcases and a mobile generator, supports a local communications network via satellite.

"Our first priority is to establish a communication link between Fiji's islands to help officials and relief co-ordinators assess and report on the damage," Vodafone Instant Network team leader Lise Mackie said.

"This will also support a communication link back to family throughout the Pacific, in New Zealand and Australia, which will hopefully alleviate anxiety for many who still don't know whether their family members are safe."

A Vodafone team will also work with Vodafone Fiji on longer-term infrastructure needs. Organisations from Fiji and the greater Pacific area are also providing relief.

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The Asian Development Bank has provided $2 million in emergency assistance for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction needs.The NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji is working with communities to ensure the needs of everyone, including women, children, disabled people, homosexual and transgender persons and other marginalised groups, are being met as best as possible.

How to donate

• Red Cross: redcross.org.nz
• Tear Fund: tearfund.org.nz
• World Vision: worldvision.org.nz
• Unicef: unicef.org.nz
• Oxfam: oxfam.org.nz
• Habitat for Humanity: www.habitat.org.nz

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