24 Mar 2010

Cyclone Tomas damage in Fiji passes US$5m mark

1:25 pm on 24 March 2010

Preliminary assessments by Fiji's National Disaster Management Office put the damage caused by Cyclone Tomas last week at just over five million US dollars.

The figures are for damage incurred by the Fiji Electricity Authority, the agriculture industry but mainly to roads, whose repairs are expected to cost more than four million dollars.

According to Fiji media, the number of houses that were destroyed by the cyclone currently stands at 457 in 70 villages and settlements across the four provinces of Macuata, Cakaudrove, Lomaiviti and Lau.

Figures provided by the Red Cross show that more than 4,500 people have been assisted directly in the distribution of non-food items.

Fiji has been pledged and given aid by various foreign governments.