-
Winds batter coconut palms in Fiji. Photo courtesy of Courtland Lee - Source: ONE News -
Watch Video
-
Related
New Zealand is ready to help Fiji as soon as Cyclone Tomas passes and damage can be assessed.
Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray McCully say help was on stand-by for the battered Pacific country.
"Obviously we are going to wait for the storm to pass through for a damage assessment to be undertaken, and then at that point we will go on and look at what they options are for New Zealand," Key says.
"But it would be my expectation that if there is as significant damage as we anticipate, that New Zealand would step up and help Fiji. We did that recently and would be there to help our friends in Fiji again."
McCully says "we've got everything on standby".
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) has advised New Zealanders in Fiji and the Solomon Islands to follow instructions issued by the local authorities, monitor local media reports and register their details at www.safetravel.govt.nz.
As flights in and out of Fiji had been suspended due to the cyclone, travellers with immediate plans to travel to Fiji should check with their airline or travel agent, an Mfat spokesperson said.
There were about 480 New Zealanders registered with the ministry as being in Fiji and around 60 registered as being in Solomon Islands.
On Tuesday morning Tomas was 240km east northeast of Suva , and was now passing over the low-lying Lau group.
Due to the effects of the storm, and problems with communications there were no official damage assessments yet from affected areas.
The storm has torn through the islands of Vanua Levu and northern Lau and is pounding villages with high waves, damaging winds and torrential rain.
The Category 4 storm, the most powerful to hit the area in seven years, is now making its way south to the Lomai Viti and Lau group.
Auckland based Indian radio station, Apna Radio, is holding a 40-hour radio-thon to raise money for those affected by Cyclone Tomas. Find out how to donate here.
