Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Storm-battered Fijians start returning to homes

Updated at 10:00 pm on 19 March 2010

Fiji's Disaster Management Office says people in northern and eastern parts of the country are gradually returning to their homes where they can.

Northern parts of the Lau and Lomaiviti island groups were the worst hit by Cyclone Tomas this week as winds averaging 175 km/h pounded coastlines, bringing swells of up to eight metres.

An estimated 18,000 people sheltered in evacuation centres during the storm, and the office's acting director, Pajiliai Dobui, says that not all have homes to return to.

He says the northern parts of the Lau and Lomaiviti island groups were the worst hit, but Cikobia fared relatively well. Villages in Taveuni were hard hit, but a lot of the affected areas are sparsely populated.

Two storm-related deaths confirmed

Mr Dobui says most breadfruit trees have been destroyed, and it will also be months before copra trading can resume. Food supplies will have to be delivered to affected islands until crops are replenished.

Earlier, his office confirmed that a second person has died as a result of the category 4 storm. A 49-year-old Public Works Department drowned as he tried to cross a river, possibly while leaving for work to perform essential duties because of the cyclone.

NZ relief mission completed

New Zealand Defence Force personnel, meanwhile, have completed their relief mission, delivering the last supplies on Friday morning to Labasa airport on Vanua Levu.

Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki says the distribution system is under control for the northern island group and Fiji's interim government has requested no further tasks of the team.

He says the Air Force team has been delivering emergency supplies, including shelters, water purification tablets and collapsible water containers.

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