1 Mar 2016

Communications still down in parts of Fiji

3:40 pm on 1 March 2016

A major communication tower for Fiji's remote Lau island group was completely crumpled by Cyclone Winston.

A major communication tower for Fiji's remote Lau island group was completely crumpled by Cyclone Winston.

A major communication tower for Fiji's remote Lau island group was completely crumpled by Cyclone Winston. Photo: RNZI / Alex Perrottet

The tower used to stand on Mago Island, which is owned by actor and film director Mel Gibson.

It provides communication to Vanua Balavu, which was decimated by the category five cyclone.

It also links to Yacata, Kaibu and Lakeba islands.

The pilot for Mago Island, Neil Covert, took the first aerial photos of Vanua Balavu last week and said the villages were unrecognisable.

Vodafone Fiji flew to Vanua Balavu to take aid.

The head of its Radio and Base Stations team Thomas Bruce said they were going again today to take boxes of kerosene stoves, cooking oil, tinned fish, fruit and vegetables, tarpaulins and other supplies.