Less than a month after Cyclone Zoe slammed into the Solomon Islands
in the Pacific, a new cyclone has wreaked havoc on the island state
of Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga.
Feiloakitau Kaho Tevi of the World Council of Churches' Pacific Desk
says that the Methodist Church and the Anglican Church's Diocese of
Polynesia along with their member-churches on the islands that have
been affected by Cyclone Ami. Both churches are members of Action
by Churches Together (ACT) International.
The full scale of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ami is slowly
becoming evident, as rescuers reach remote areas that have been without
power and telephones for the past days.
Fiji: At least six people are confirmed to have died during
the cyclone and a number of people are still missing.
Cyclone Ami ripped through Fiji Island on Monday night (13 January
2003), affecting Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji, leaving
its main city Labasa awash in floodwaters up to 1.2 meters deep. All
communications to and from the area were cut off.
The smaller islands of Lau and Lomaiviti were also affected. The
Fiji National Disaster Management Committee (DISMAC) reports that
more than 50 percent of homes in the island of Ono-I-Lou alone were
destroyed by the cyclone. Coconut plantations and crops were also
decimated and water sources on the island contaminated by salt water.
The government of Fiji has not yet requested international assistance
as it is still waiting for an official assessment report.
Tonga: Cyclone Ami roared over the South Pacific Kingdom of
Tonga but caused less damage than to the islands of Fiji. Telephone
lines were cut, trees stripped and extensive damage was caused to
banana and coconut plantations. There were no immediate reports of
casualties.
