Treacherous cyclone hitting Fiji islands

by steve468 | December 7, 2007 at 01:17 pm | 1327 views | 3 comments

(CNN) -- Powerful Tropical Cyclone Daman closed in on Fiji on Friday, threatening the Pacific island chain with home-destroying winds and dangerous floods.

"It's most likely going to be one of the severest cyclones to hit the country in recent times," Fiji Disaster Management Office director Joeli Rokovabe told The Associated Press. Tourist resorts -- Fiji's top industry -- are also threatened, he added.

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Rob Walker

at 14:24 on December 7th, 2007

news wanted:

I think this is an important story and would benefit from other NowPublic contributors working on it. I've flagged it as News Wanted and invite others in relevant locations to look for more evidence.

"Ferocious Cyclone Daman is nearing landfall in Fiji today, and it
winds could strike with Category 4 hurricane strength, according to
press reports.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated its winds at 120 mph
Friday morning, making it a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson
scale. The center forecast a slight weakening of the storm, to 115 mph
sustained winds, by the time it makes landfall. That would still make
the storm a strong Category 3 storm."

"TOURISTS on Fiji's second largest island
should evacuate or get to high ground as tropical Cyclone Daman
continues to strengthen, authorities have warned.

Matt Boterhoven, from the Fiji Meteorological
Service, said if tourists could safely leave places including the
popular resort town of Savusavu they should."

"Fijian fishermen are bracing themselves for the storm's onslaught.

Coastal sea surges, heavy rain and winds of up to 200kmph are already starting to pound Fiji's tropical islands."

Images courtesy various weather warning networks and wunderground.com

Rob Walker

at 17:48 on December 7th, 2007

The Category Four storm passed directly over the island, which is to
the northeast of Fiji's second largest island, Vanua Levu. The cyclone
is now moving past Fiji.

Fiji's Disaster Management Office says Cikobia was extensively
damaged. It says about 70 people live on two villages on the island,
but it is not yet known whether anyone has been injured.

Hurricane-strength winds also hit the northern part of Vanua Levu.

Fiji's Meteorological Service says the worst is now over, but strong
winds will continue for some time, and parts of the country are still
getting heavy rain.