Cyclone Tomas Slams Fiji: Aid Starts To Arrive

Cyclone Tomas ravaged northern and eastern Fiji islands over the weekend, packing winds of up to 130 miles per hour and raising waves of up to 23 feet high. The category four storm has now moved out to sea and is losing strength. Northern and eastern parts of the country that have been hit hardest by cyclone Tomas are left without power and drinking water. It is being reported that up to 17,000 people might have been left homeless by the storm.

• Cyclone Tomas Hits Fiji, Expected To Pick Up Force

But, aid from Australia and New Zealand is starting to arrive in Fiji.  The military planes are surveying the damage on the ground, which so far has been classified as "overwhelming" by country's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Property damage is reported. Some houses were blown away, trees uprooted and roads blocked. One person is reported to have died, but the extent of life loss and damages is still uncertain due to cut-off in communications with affected regions. A nationwide curfew imposed during the period of the storm has now been lifted. However, cyclone-hit regions of the country will remain under a state of emergency for another 30 days.

Cyclone Tomas is one of the worst storms to have hit Fiji in recent years.