17 May 2016

9000 homes still without power in Fiji

9:36 am on 17 May 2016

About 9,000 homes in Fiji are yet to have their power supply restored, three months after Cyclone Winston damaged much of the country.

The chief executive of the Fiji Electricity Authority, Hasmukh Patel, says most of those homes are in the Ba-Tavua corridor on Viti Levu, one of the areas worst-hit by the category five cyclone.

Fallen power poles a common sight in all of Fiji post-Cyclone Winston

Fallen power poles a common sight in all of Fiji post-Cyclone Winston Photo: Alex Perrottet/RNZ

Mr Patel told the FBC that most of these customers should have power supplies restored within the next few weeks.

He says power infrastructure was severely damaged by the cyclone, putting the cost of damage at nearly $US10 million.