Island ‘flattened’ by cyclone

SUVA – One island has been virtually flattened, the Fijian government says.

Government spokesman Ewan Perrin told Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report the island of Koro appeared to have taken a direct hit, with eight bodies found there in the wake of the storm.

Perrin said 2000 families lived on the island “and it has been pretty much flattened. There are very few buildings left”.

Two vessels carrying medical aid, food and water were expected to arrive at Koro yesterday morning, he said.

More than 8000 people remain in hundreds of evacuation centres throughout the Fijian islands, and thousands throughout the 300 islands of the archipelago would be displaced for months, he said.

As well, the death toll was expected to continue rising. - RNZI