The death toll from a strong cyclone that hit the Pacific island nation of Fiji last week rose to four, with one missing
SUVA, Fiji – The death toll from a strong cyclone that hit the Pacific island nation of Fiji last week rose to four, with one missing, an official said on Sunday.
As Cyclone Yasa spared the capital, Suva, and Nadi’s main resort on Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu, on Thursday, the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
Vasiti Soko, director of Fiji’s national disaster management office, told reporters that 7,731 people are still in 183 evacuation centers across the country.
Soko said an Australian military transport C-17 should arrive later Sunday with shelter kits.
Before the cyclone hit gusts of up to 345 kilometers (214 miles) per hour, authorities had imposed an overnight shutdown and declared a natural disaster.
Located about a third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii, Fiji has a population of about 930,000.