18 Dec 2020

Fiji authorities beginning to assess cyclone damage

From Morning Report, 6:39 am on 18 December 2020

Authorities in Fiji are beginning to find out just how widespread the damage is after severe tropical Cyclone Yasa blasted the country overnight. 

The winds, with peak gusts around 345-kilometres an hour, have eased slightly this morning but too late to spare many buildings and homes on the main islands from destruction. 

People were urged to move to higher ground before nightfall yesterday... ahead of the massive 14-metre storm swells and surges which were expected to cause flash flooding and coastal inundation. 

A curfew is in place and a 30 day state of natural disaster has been declared.

RNZ Pacific's Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor speaks to Morning Report.