Cyclone Winston damage in Fiji runs to $476m, says disaster office

By Allison Penjueli in Suva

A total of $476.3 million of estimated damages in all sectors was recorded from damages caused by TC Winston, the Fiji Roads Authority has recorded the highest preliminary amount of $135 million of damages around the country.

This was announced by the Natural Disasters Management Office Director, Akapusi Tuifagalele, at a press conference today.

The damage assessment results by sector, the FRA now tops the list with 135 million. The rest remains, with the Agriculture Sector with $120 million, the Sugar Sector with $80 million and Education with $50.2 million. We now have a preliminary estimate of $476.3 million in total damages.

The director said that the Fiji Red Cross Society had assessed 10,397 households and had assisted 5243.

As of today, there are 619 operating evacuation centres around Fiji with 19,649 evacuees. We expect people to move back to their homes, move back to their places and start to rebuild also to clean up in the respective areas

Director Tuifagalele said that rehabilitation on Koro Island was continuing and that the Prime Minister with other cabinet ministers were on the island today.

The preliminary assessment results of destroyed dwellings around Fiji stands at 7042 and 11,111 of damaged dwellings. Coming to total of 18,154 dwellings destroyed or partly damaged.

Update of Statistics:

• Deaths: 43
• Evacuation Centres: 619
• People in evacuation centres: 19,649