Fiji.- At least two dead after cyclone ‘Yasa’ passed through Fiji

MADRID, 18 (EUROPA PRESS)

At least two people have died after cyclone ‘Yasa’ passed through Fiji, causing in turn the destruction of houses and the evacuation of almost 23,500 affected.

After making landfall in the archipelago on Thursday night, on Friday afternoon ‘Yasa’ dropped from category 5 to 3, with winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour, however, it has left a trail of devastation, with the destruction of houses and infrastructure and the flooding of crops.

The cyclone picked up speed on Thursday and the center of the storm made landfall in the late afternoon over Bua province, ahead of forecasts from the Nadi Meteorological Office, as the system moved faster than expected.

The cyclone is expected to leave the islands on Saturday morning as a Category 2 storm, according to the Nadi Meteorological Office, as reported in the local newspaper ‘Fiji Village’.

Currently, the alert continues for strong winds and storm surges, especially strong waves on the south coast of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and the nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and the Lau group, where a heavy rain warning also remains in effect.

Likewise, alerts are still in effect for the possible flooding of some rivers in the country and the sudden flooding of low-lying areas and adjacent to small streams in the territory.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Yacata, Cicia, Nayau, Vanuabalavu, Lakeba, Oneata, Vanuavatu, Moce, Kabara, Namuka-i-Lau, Ogea, Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau.

‘Yasa’ has become one of the strongest storms to hit Fiji, having recorded winds reaching 345 kilometers per hour and flooding in many parts of the country’s islands.

The Executive declared a state of natural disaster for the next 30 days, while the Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, has made reference to the twelve hurricanes that have hit the country since 2012 and has assured that it is not a “normal” event and that it is “a climate emergency”

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