15 Dec 2009

Cyclone toll rising, 2000 homeless in Fiji

9:41 pm on 15 December 2009

Authorities in Fiji have confirmed two deaths on the main island, after a category two cyclone, with two other people still missing and at least 2000 people homeless.

The National Disaster Management Office says a young boy was killed by a falling tree and a man, 23, drowned during the storm.

Cyclone Mick hit the Yasawa and Mamanuca islands on Monday, before tracking across the main island Viti Levu, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

It caused extensive flooding, loss of power, closed roads and damage to houses.

Aid agencies have been assessing the most urgent needs and distributing basic supplies.

Joanna Matthew from Save the Children New Zealand says the cyclone has wiped out an entire year's supplies of food crops.

She says an assessment is being carried out on the impact of the damage to crops.

The charity UNICEF's Pacific deputy representative, Tim Sutton, says staff have been assessing the most urgent needs and distributing basic supplies.

Only one major road on Viti Levu remained closed on Tuesday, and power had been restored to much of the capital, Suva.

Storm weakens

The cyclone has been downgraded to a depression, although gale force winds are still lashing the south-eastern coast of Fiji.

Fiji's Meteorological Office says the depression is weakening as it heads for the Tongan island of Tongatapu.

It says the island nation can expect winds of about 60km per hour.