Our thoughts are with our South Pacific neighbours, Fiji, as residents bunker down ready for a ‘dire situation’, as category five cyclone Yasa prepares to cause havoc.
Cyclone season is back with a vengeance and the people of Fiji are preparing for the worst, as the category five storm, named Yasa, comes hurtling towards the islands.
According to an article by the ABC, Yasa has the potential to be one of the most destructive cyclone in living memory, with winds at 200 kilometres per hour at its centre, with momentary gusts of up to 280kph.
The cyclone is heading directly for the countries two main islands – Viti Levu and Vanua Levu – and is set to hit early Friday morning.
Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office has said some 600,000 people lie directly in the cyclone’s path.
Locals are being warned to not be caught off guard and to head to an evacuation centre if they don’t think their houses can withstand the force of Yasa.
We’d like to take these moments to send our love and support to all those currently in Fiji, and those who are closely connected to Fiji.
Stay safe and stick together.
People have already taken to Twitter to share their updates from Fiji and to also send wishes of protection and words of kindness, which is so beautiful to see.
So, to the people of Fiji. We’re sorry 2020 is not done yet, but we know you are a strong nation, with n incredible sense of community, and you can get through this.
Be prepared, shelter, evaculate.
Australia is thinking of you.
UPDATE:
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the cyclone struck on THursday evenibf local time and was one of the strongest storms to ever hit the nation.
With maximum sustained winds of between 240 and 260 km/h, the storm made landfall on Vanua Levu, bringing devastating winds, flooding rains and storm surge flooding.
Local media has reported two deaths from the storm without giving more detail.
The storm began pulling away in the early hours of Friday morning to reveal the full impact of the damage.