Cyclone Winston: Death toll rises to 29 as clear-up begins

9:10:00 AM
A resident repairing his damaged house following Cyclone Winston in Fiji's Ba district (22 February 2016)Image copyrightAFP
Image captionFijians are beginning to rebuild their homes
The number of people killed in the cyclone that hit Fiji at the weekend has risen to 29, with officials warning the clear-up could take months.
About 8,500 people are still sheltering in evacuation centres.
Cyclone Winston has flattened many buildings in parts of the main Viti Levu island and Koro islands, Fijian officials said.
The category five storm brought winds of over 320km/h (200mph), torrential rain and waves of up to 12m (40ft).
It has been described by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation as the worst to ever hit the country.
A fallen telephone pole lying on top of a car following Cyclone Winston in Fiji's western division (22 February 2016)Image copyrightAFP
Image captionThe category five storm left a trail of destruction
A remote Fijian village is photographed from the air during a surveillance flight conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force (22 February 2016)Image copyrightReuters
Image captionThe damage in remote outlying areas - so far seen only from the air - is reported to be especially bad
A man stands over the ruins of his house following Cyclone Winston in western Fiji (22 February 2016)Image copyrightAFP
Image captionThe storm has been described as the worst ever to have hit Fiji
A boy in the remains of his home following Cyclone Winston in Fiji's Ba district (22 February 2016)Image copyrightAFP
Image captionIn parts of the country few buildings have been left standing
Government spokesman Ewan Perrin told Radio New Zealand that the houses of 2,000 families who lived on Koro island had been "pretty much flattened".
Eight bodies were found there on Monday.
Rescue workers warned that the death toll could rise further as some of the worst-hit outlying islands have yet to be reached.
"We're still trying to get people on the ground in these areas," Mr Perrin was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
"In some places people are going to be displaced for months because they've lost everything," he added.
The New Zealand Air Force has helped Fijian rescuers carry out aerial inspections across almost all the islands, Mr Perrin said.
Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel load aid supplies for Cyclone Winston relief on board a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft bound for Fiji (22 February 2016)Image copyrightAFP
Image captionNew Zealand has sent aid
Residents taking shelter under a plastic sheet among the ruins of their house (22 February 2016)Image copyrightAFP
Image captionMany parts of the country remain without power
Officials say the priority now is to provide water and shelter to Fijians as they begin rebuilding their homes.
Many parts of the country remain without power.
However, officials said the destruction could have been far worse had the storm not changed direction at the last minute, sparing the capital Suva its full impact.
Map
The government has declared a state of emergency and called on private companies to help provide transport and relief supplies.
Officials had also put in place a nationwide curfew, giving police extra powers of arrest, but it was lifted on Monday.
Schools have shut for a week, but the main airport has reopened to receive humanitarian supplies and allow tourists to leave.
Australia and New Zealand have authorised the release of emergency aid supplies held in Suva.

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