31 Jan 2008

Fiji cleans up after Cyclone Gene

3:07 pm on 31 January 2008

Residents in Fiji's town, Nadi, have started to clean up the debris in shops and homes after flood waters receded following Cyclone Gene.

Seven people have been killed and thousands are estimated to be affected by the cyclone that knocked down houses, and flooded hospitals and businesses.

About 500 people are sheltering in 14 evacuation centres across the country and schools are still closed.

Power has been restored to most parts of Fiji, but many people are still without water.

The mayor of Nadi, Timoci Koroiqica, says a major clean up is underway in his town.

"The water level has gone down, the town is clear of water, it's now open to all traffic. All the shopkeepers and council workers are busy scrubbing the streets and residues from the floods from their shops."

Timoci Koroiqica says water has seeped into many homes and most food gardens have been damaged.

The Fiji Met Service says cyclone Gene is heading towards Vanuatu and a hurricane warning will be in force for the Vanuatu's southern islands from tomorrow.

Cyclone Gene is a category 3 cyclone with winds of 120 kilometres per hour and is located about 180 kilometres to the east-north-east of Tanna in southern Vanuatu.

A forecaster, Alipate Waqaicelua, says cyclone Gene is expected to move towards the west south-west and hit the southern Vanuatu islands.

We're anticipating at least gale force winds to start within the next twelve hours and the stronger storm and hurricane-force winds later on in the next 24 hours as we expect the centre to be about seventy nautical miles to the east south-east of Tanna tomorrow morning Fiji time.

Alipate Waqaicelua says more rain is expected in most of Fiji today.