Fijians warned of flooding, huge waves as super storm bears down

Fijians were warned Thursday that no part of the Pacific island nation would escape the wrath of approaching super cyclone Yasa, expected to bring flash floods, huge waves and widespread destruction.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama blamed the unfolding emergency on climate change and told islanders that the storm could be worse than a cyclone four years ago that killed dozens.

The top-of-the-scale category five storm continued to gather strength as it rumbled toward Fiji, with wind gusts reaching 345 kilometres an hour (210 miles an hour).

Yasa was forecast to make landfall late Thursday but its outer bands were already bringing heavy rain and strong winds, causing widespread flooding, cutting off roads and leaving communities isolated.

Bainimarama said the approaching storm was so big that its impact was likely to be felt across the entire country, not just in localised areas.

"Over 850,000 Fijians are in the direct path of the cyclone -- more than 95 percent of our population," he said.

"Everywhere in Fiji, we can expect the rains will get worse, the winds will become more destructive.

"In low-lying areas, we anticipate flash flooding and severe coastal inundation, including waves up to 10 metres (33 feet) in height."

He said Yasa "could easily surpass" the destruction wrought by Cyclone Winston in February 2016, which killed 44 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes.

The Fijian leader, a long-time campaigner for climate action, had no doubt global warming was fuelling such super storms, which were once rare but have become relatively common.

"As the world is getting warmer these storms are getting stronger," he said.

"Every one of us must treat these climate-fuelled catastrophes with deadly seriousness."

- Lessons learned -

Fiji has opened evacuation centres and people living near the coast have been advised to flee to higher ground.

Housing in Fiji's villages is largely made from timber and corrugated iron, making them vulnerable to high winds.

Sheltering in schools, church halls and even shipping containers offers better protection but runs the risk of health issues if people stay longer than a few days.

All schools and public transport were closed, with non-essential public servants told to stay home and a curfew in place for Thursday night.

Authorities also declared a state of natural disaster for the next 30 days, which gives sweeping powers to emergency services.

"We don't want anybody losing their lives out there," assistant police commissioner Abdul Khan said.

"We will be here to protect you. Please take this seriously and let us prepare for a worst-case scenario."

New Zealand-based meteorological service Weatherwatch said Yasa was one of the most powerful cyclones recorded in the South Pacific, capable of cutting a swathe of destruction 300 kilometres wide.

"This storm has the ability to swamp entire islands, inundate entire coastal communities, wipe some small islands off the map entirely," Weatherwatch managing director Philip Duncan said.

Save the Children said lessons had been learned from Winston in 2016 and Fijians were taking cyclone preparation seriously.

"We've seen people stocking up on essential food items and supplies," the aid agency's Fiji chief Shairana Ali said.

"People are stocking up on water because there is a warning from the Fiji Water Authority that people will not have proper water supply for at least 10 days."

Ali said Yasa was expected to make landfall late Thursday at Bua province, on the island of Vanua Levu, although the cyclone's track has been difficult to accurately predict.

Fiji's borders remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which Ali said could present a challenge for international relief efforts.

Aid agencies have pre-positioned supplies across the country in anticipation of a major disaster during cyclone season, which runs until May next year.

The most recent category five storm to hit Fiji was the highly destructive Cyclone Harold in April this year.

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Cyclone Yasa strengthens into super-storm off Fiji
Suva, Fiji (AFP) Dec 15, 2020
Tropical Cyclone Yasa has intensified into a top-of-the-scale category five super-storm in the Pacific and remains on track to hit Fiji this week, forecasters said Wednesday. The Fiji Meteorological Service said the monster storm was whipping up wind gusts of up to 280 kilometres per hour (174 mph) as it gathers strength about 550 kilometres (340 miles) northwest of the main island Viti Levu. The New Zealand-based meteorological service Weatherwatch said Fiji was "smack bang in the firing line" ... read more