In July, Fiji's Prime Minister said one-third of the country's workforce had lost their jobs or had their hours cut as a result of the pandemic. Use our interactive to look through satellite photos that captured the destruction of Cyclone Winston in Fiji. Cyclone Yasa caused an estimated loss of almost US$250 million (NZ$345m) to infrastructure, livelihoods and agriculture, Fiji's government … Images shared on social media showed roads blocked by landslides, floodwaters and fallen trees. Cane Farmers Affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in Vanua Levu to be Assisted Format News and Press Release Source. Yasa was the second tropical disturbance, as well as the first tropical cyclone and severe tropical cyclone of the 2020–21 South Pacific cyclone season. "It was devastating. Are you over 50? Selestino Naqarase, the head of a village on Fiji's Koro island, said that people spent the night huddled together, terrified of the storm. The Rewa skirts the capital, Suva, and runs through Nausori, where Suva's airport is located. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa was the strongest tropical cyclone in the South Pacific since Winston in 2016, as well as the fourth most intense tropical cyclone on record in the basin. Cyclone Yasa weakens but leaves extensive damage in Fiji Category 5 storm narrowly misses the country’s most populated area around capital, Suva, … "We're still getting numbers through from the northern division, but we know already that there's over 23,000 people in 457 evacuation centres, and that number is expected to grow, and the photos we're getting through are really disastrous," she said. "We stand ready to deliver additional emergency supplies such as tents, tarpaulins and hygiene kits, and to support the distribution of supplies to remote outer islands, which are reported to have been severely hit by the category five storm.". Residents wade through the flooded streets in Fiji's capital city of Suva in the wake of Cyclone Yasa. He said in addition to hundreds of evacuation centres, tens of thousands of people took shelter in public buildings or secured their own homes to wait out the storm. UNICEF has continued its efforts to support children and communities in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Harold and is concerned by the potential impact of Tropical Cyclone Yasa on vulnerable children and families, especially with the ongoing pandemic. On this same day in 2012, Fiji was enduring Cyclone Evan. Fiji surveys damage from Cyclone Yasa — one of the strongest storms ever recorded By Tracey Shelton, wires . "Initial reports from volunteers are revealing destruction in Bua, a province on the island of Vanua Levu. As the storm approached, weather forecasts had anticipated flash flooding and "severe coastal inundation" including waves up to 10 metres high. Just waiting for the worst," Mr Naqarase said. "On this same day in 2012, Fiji was enduring Cyclone Evan," Mr Bainimarama tweeted. Tropical Cyclone Yasa struck the low-lying Pacific island nation of Fiji on Thursday evening local time, as one of the strongest storms to hit there. A nationwide … About 70 per cent of Bua province in the island's south was devastated, the Red Cross said, while 100 per cent of Kia Island was hit. The Fiji Times newspaper reported the cyclone had destroyed about 20 homes and a community hall in the village of Tiliva and that homes in other villages had also been damaged or … All roads in Rakiraki, a district on the main island with about 30,000 residents, were flooded, according to local media. They just looked around, seeking cover, holding each other. But Yasa, about 550km (340 miles) north-west of Fiji’s main island Viti Levu, has already been upgraded to a category five cyclone, with winds of up to 270km/h. A powerful cyclone that tore through Fiji late last week has caused havoc in some areas and left people without shelter and fresh water, Fiji Red Cross said on Sunday. Authorities remain concerned about heavy rains bought by Cyclone Yasa, though the storm has weakened in strength and is now just a category 2 as it moves south across the island chain. Updated Updated 18/12/2020 Share The alarm was largely heeded, and as a result, humanitarian groups said it appeared the initial impact of Cyclone Yasa was less than originally feared, though still extensive. Fiji. Fiji is imposing another curfew tonight, and its Disaster Office said the Government is focussing on restoring infrastructure and communications over the next 24 hours. "Some families have reported that they have lost everything. With maximum sustained winds … "The full extent of the damage is only just starting to be revealed.". Hurricane force winds and torrential rain brought by Cyclone Yasa have destroyed scores of houses and flattened crops in Fiji's northern regions, aid agencies said on Friday. CARE spokesperson Stefan Knollmayer said while Fiji had managed to avoid significant outbreaks of COVID-19, "this year has already been economically and socially devastating given tourism employs so many people, especially women". All roads in Rakiraki, a district on the main island with about 30,000 residents, were flooded, Fiji's Road Authority said. Fiji banned the running of public transport, and was taking precautions with some 50 foreign yachts moored in the southern part of the island chain. Ms Heinrich said, "A lot of work has gone on in Fiji to prepare for disasters," including a new system to provide warnings and evacuation instructions via SMS. Four depressions formed within a few days of each other, with two becoming named, Ana and Bina. Images shared on social media showed roads blocked by landslides, floodwaters and fallen trees. Updated 10:30 PM ET, Thu December 17, 2020. "The Australian Government will assist the Government of Fiji in whatever capacity we can," she said in a statement on Saturday. This is not normal. Relief efforts are underway in Fiji after Cyclone Yasa slammed into the Pacific Island nation with winds of 240 kilometres per hour. Antony Balmain, spokesperson for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said they had been assisting government authorities to make sure people evacuated safely. Communications were also cut to many areas and the Government declared a 30-day "State of Natural Disaster". Still, the adverse weather has hampered efforts by aid groups to dispatch assistance, with waves of more than 3 meters (10 feet) preventing ships leaving Suva. The Fiji Red Cross Society said work done by Sunday afternoon suggested a "devastation assessment" of 40 per cent in Makuata province, where Labasa is situated. Govt. Cyclone Yasa (Fiji) Emergency Appeal; Tropical Cyclone Yasa made landfall in Fiji on Thursday 17 December 2020, with reports of significant damage across Fiji. "This is not normal," Bainimara tweeted on Thursday. People remove debris due to Cyclone Yasa at Velau Drive in Fiji, December 18, 2020, in this image obtained via social media. Up to 93,000 others were affected by the cyclone, the Disaster Office said — adding that those numbers may rise as communications are restored with affected areas. "They have had water and biscuits for breakfast," she said. "Since then, we've been battered by 12 more cyclones — two of which (Winston and Yasa) are now jockeying for our hemisphere's strongest-ever storm in history.". Widespread flooding and landslides have also been reported in Fiji's north, with buildings and crops destroyed in a number of villages. "This is a climate emergency. Cyclone Yasa's powerful winds and torrential rain have left at least two people dead, one a three-month-old baby, and destroyed scores of homes in Fiji. He told the country's near 1 million population to find safe shelter ahead of a 14-hour nationwide curfew that began at 4:00pm. Note: Donations to this Appeal have now closed. Speaking to the ABC from Suva on Friday morning, after a long night of storm winds and heavy rain, Ms Heinrich said they were just beginning to receive details of the scale of the destruction as a nationwide curfew lifted at 6:00am. As the storm approached on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Bainimarama said Yasa would "easily surpass" the strength of 2016's Cyclone Winston, referring to the southern hemisphere's most intense tropical storm on record, which killed more than 40 Fijians and left tens of thousands of people homeless. Navalny affair no grounds to cancel Nord Stream pipeline, new German CDU chief says Authorities said the cyclone was weakening on Friday as it moved south-east over some of Fiji’s outer islands. She said initial assessments would be done in the coming days, but getting emergency items such as water, sanitation kits and shelter there was "going to be a challenge". Photo: Fiji government. "We're getting photos coming through this morning with schools completely demolished, roofs blown off and families talking about hiding under shelter overnight to survive the storm," said Cate Heinrich, Chief of Communication at UNICEF Pacific. At least two people have died after Cyclone Yasa made landfall in Fiji on Thursday night. Fiji's Government said the Rewa River was rising, with rain continuing intermittently. After all that, the basin remained quiet for a while until activity picked up in late January. It was also the second Category 5 severe tropical cyclone in 2020 after Harold in the 2019–20 South Pacific cyclone season. "Our main concern is to ensure people, especially children, have access to proper food and clean water.". Super cyclone Yasa hits Fiji, destroys dozens of homes Yasa hits Pacific island nation with wind gusts of up to 345km/h Rescuers raced to the worst-hit communities in isolated areas "Communities need immediate assistance," Save the Children Fiji CEO Shairana Ali told CNN. Strong cyclones have become increasingly common in the Pacific in recent years, something Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, and environmental organizations have put down to climate change. "A cyclone like this could be a double disaster for Fiji.". "This is one of the most destructive and severe cyclones that has ever hit Fiji," he said. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. ", Ali said that some families lost all of their food during the storm. She said more than 20,000 people had used the system, a joint project between UNICEF and the National Disaster Management Office to access information on evacuation warnings and evacuation centre locations. "Nobody moved or even talked. Hurricane force winds and torrential rain brought by Cyclone Yasa have destroyed scores of houses and flattened crops in Fiji's northern regions, aid agencies said on Friday. Predicted track of Cyclone Yasa as of 18 December 2020. National Disaster Management Office said two deaths had been confirmed, including a three-month-old baby. ". Fiji had on Thursday declared a state of natural disaster, ordered its entire population of nearly 1 million people to seek shelter, and implemented a nightly curfew. "We are very concerned for the safety of thousands of people who have experienced the brunt of this monster storm," Fiji Red Cross Society Director-General Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said in a statement on Friday. Cyclone Yasa, a top category 5 storm, made landfall over Bua province on the northern island of Vanua Levu on Thursday evening, bringing torrential rain, widespread flooding and winds of up to 285 kilometers per hour (177 miles per hour) across the archipelago. "This is one of the most destructive and severe cyclones that has ever hit Fiji,… "The boats have been moved to mangrove shelter, which provide good protection against the winds," said Cynthia Rasch, chief executive officer of Port Denarau Marina. 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