Author Topic: Worst Cyclone to Hit Southern Hemisphere, Winston  (Read 6348 times)

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Richard Myers

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Worst Cyclone to Hit Southern Hemisphere, Winston
« on: February 22, 2016, 10:07:56 AM »
Saturday night Cyclone Winston hit Fiji with 184 mph winds. It was the strongest cyclone to ever hit in the southern hemisphere. The death toll is at 20, but is expected to rise as whole villages were flattened.


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Richard Myers

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Re: Worst Cyclone to Hit Southern Hemisphere, Winston
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2016, 10:16:33 AM »


February 22, 2016 | Suva, Fiji | Braden Blyde, ADRA New Zealand |

Twenty-four hours after Cyclone Winston smashed Fiji the full picture of the destruction remains unknown.

Power, water, communication, roads and other vital infrastructure remain cut and many parts of the country, including the regions likely hardest hit by the Category 5 storm, are not contactable. The official death toll has risen to five.

“From my experience this is the worst cyclone ever to hit Fiji,” said Iliapi Tuai, country director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Fiji. “It was a big one. It was a frightening night. There is still no power or water here in Suva and we’re not expecting it back until Tuesday.”

“Without power we cannot pump water. Without power there is no communication to the remote areas and outlying islands. This is the big issue right now.”

The situation could be much worse in northern regions of Viti Levu and the exact details may not be known for days.

With communications down government assessments are being carried out on ground. A task made difficult by downed powerlines and trees.

Key roads remain closed from Nadi through Lautoka to the north and across the northern coast of Viti Levu to Rakiraki. The roads south from Nadi to Singatoka are also closed.

“We are working closely with the government to ensure help is given where it is need most as quickly as possible,” said Mr Tuwai.

“It appears that jetties on some of the outlying areas have also been destroyed. This will make reaching and assessing the impact there difficult.”

The jetty at Savusavu, the main town on the island of Vanua Levu has been confirmed as destroyed.

Access to clean water and sanitation, shelter and food are likely to be the most pressing needs across the country. The destructive winds and wide-spread flooding may also lead to food shortages in the coming months.

Before landfall more than 750 evacuation centers were established, including Adventist schools and churches across the country. It remains unclear how many people remain and what damage may have been sustained.

Without power supply accessing stored fuel may also be difficult, potentially hampering relief efforts in the coming days.

The Fiji MET service is closely monitoring the path of Cyclone Winston, with some fearing it may return for a second pass through the island nation.
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Richard Myers

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Re: Worst Cyclone to Hit Southern Hemisphere, Winston
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2016, 10:30:44 AM »



According to the South Pacific Division's Record many of church properties have escaped major damage. Others have been damages and some destroyed.

The administrative offices of the Trans-Pacific Union Mission and FIji Mission in Suva have both escaped relatively unscathed. However, staff houses at Vatuvonu Adventist College on Fiji's second island of Vanua Levu were damaged, with teachers taking shelter in classrooms. Photos from Sabeto, on the outskirts of Nadi, show that the road to Fulton University College is blocked by a fallen tree and floodwaters. Buildings at the recently constructed Fulton campus, however, are largely undamaged.


Fiji Mission general secretary Pastor Joseph Talemaitoga  said the information he was getting from pastors is that the damage to churches and school buildings is “pretty bad”, with a number of buildings completely destroyed. He said Fiji’s second biggest island, Vanua Levu, suffered the worst damage. An Adventist college, three primary schools and a number of churches are on the island but there is no information yet on how badly they have been impacted.

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Richard Myers

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Re: Worst Cyclone to Hit Southern Hemisphere, Winston
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2016, 01:21:15 PM »
ADRA on Fiji disaster.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.