Hercules finds damage, salt-water contamination in Fiji

A roofless house in Vanua Levu. Photo / Mack Khan

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules in Fiji has carried out reconnaissance flights over the country's northern islands, finding damaged buildings and salt-water inundation following Cyclone Tomas.

A tropical cyclone warning had been removed as Tomas continued to weaken, after leaving at least one person dead, more than 18,000 homeless and knocking out power and communications.

Tomas may be downgraded to a tropical storm today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said.

The Hercules arrived in Fiji yesterday morning carrying emergency supplies and had transported supplies to Labasa, on the island of Vanua Levu.

The plane later carried out a reconnaissance flight over areas in the Northern Division affected by the cyclone, including the island of Cikobia, MFAT said.

Initial assessments from the flight suggest there was obvious damage to buildings and evidence of salt-water inundation.

Bad weather prevented further reconnaissance yesterday.

A Royal Australian Air Force Hercules also arrived in Fiji last night and the two planes would be carrying out further tasks today, including transporting supplies to affected areas and reconnaissance of the Lau group of islands.

The New Zealand Government yesterday committed an initial $1 million in aid to Fiji, following Australia's announcement of A$1 million (NZ$1.26 million) in aid.

Red Cross emergency response teams were handing out relief items including tarpaulins, food, blankets, drinking water and water purification tablets.

First aid teams and assessment personnel had been deployed to the worst affected areas in Bua, Seaqaua and southeast Vanua Levu, New Zealand Red Cross international operations manager Andrew McKie said.

It was estimated that assessments of the damage would be completed on Friday.

Rotary New Zealand was also handing out emergency response kits containing water treatment tablets, first aid materials, candles, tools and plastic cover sheets in Fiji.

Rotary New Zealand's World Community Service programme director Stuart Batty said 142 of the kits were already stored in Fiji in case of a cyclone, with another 335 ready to be sent to Fiji from Auckland.

Fiji disaster management officials said they had received reports of "a few" deaths as the cyclone pounded the nation.

But National Disaster Management Office director Pajiliai Dobui said the numbers of dead and injured could not be confirmed by police until communications were restored with islands in the north and east.

Earlier yesterday New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully told Radio New Zealand the Hercules may be in Fiji for several days and New Zealand would continue to help, if Fiji requested it.

An Orion was also on standby to provide further reconnaissance if required.

Around 480 New Zealanders were registered MFAT as being in Fiji but there had been no reports of any casualties.

New Zealanders in Fiji were encouraged by MFAT to contact their family and friends at home.

The New Zealand High Commission in Suva confirmed the major tourist areas were largely unaffected by the cyclone and had made contact with most resorts in the affected areas where New Zealand citizens were staying.

Nadi and Nausori airports were now operational but people planning to travel to Fiji should check with their travel agent or accommodation provider for information on domestic flights and possible resort damage, MFAT said.

Compounding the weather problems in the region was Tropical Cyclone Ului, which had been pounding the Solomon Islands but had since weakened.

There were no reports of casualties but buildings had been damaged by the cyclone, MFAT said.

Around 60 New Zealanders were registered with MFAT as being in the Solomon Islands.

The New Zealand Government was ready to assist in the Solomon Islands if required.

- NZPA