29 Mar 2010

New assessment of Cyclone Tomas damage in Fiji at US$18m

2:02 pm on 29 March 2010

Cyclone Tomas is estimated to have caused damage in Fiji of about 35 million Fiji dollars or 18 million US dollars.

The category 4 storm battered Vanua Levu and the Lau Group earlier this month.

The National Disaster Management Office's acting director, Pajiliai Dobui, says the initial phase of the damage assessment has now been completed.

"The estimated [figure] roughly is about 35 million [Fiji dollars]. This is for education, agriculture, for works, that's roads and water, and also for health and telecom."

Pajiliai Dobui says the detailed and final assessment is yet to be made, but the agricultural sector seems to be the worst affected.