Yasa stronger than Winston
More than 600,000 Fijians are at risk as Tropical Cyclone Yasa with ‘phenomenal’ storm surges and winds of more than 300 kilometre per hour reaches Fijian waters beginning 6am December 17. Read More
MORE than 600,000 Fijians are at risk as Tropical Cyclone Yasa with ‘phenomenal’ storm surges and winds of more than 300 kilometre per hour reaches Fijian waters beginning 6am December 17.
The category five storm is expected to track right through the centre of Fiji with some models forecasting it to make landfall in Fiji’s north western division.
On either path, the cyclone should devastate all of the country’s major towns and cities.
As the National Disaster Management Office announced the activation of its national emergency operations on December 16, director Vasiti Soko said Fijians must ‘prepare, prepare, prepare’ for the system she implied could be stronger than TC Winston which killed 44 people in 2016.
“We’ve all been seeing the different models that everyone has access to now and our met officers have been publishing the cyclone track. We can see the size of the eye and the area that is of concern. It is not part of Fiji like Winston, it is the whole of Fiji so the government is coming in strong to ask the people to please take heed of warning and look after your families.”
Schools around the country were ordered shut on Tuesday and examinations deferred to a later date and civil servants sent home as public transportation ground to a halt.
“We cannot reiterate any more and we emphasise the need for people to please please tie down your homes, stock up on dry food, stock up on fresh water and ensure the safety of your children,” Ms Soko said.
“Do not try to cross any flooded river or any flooded walkway and minimise movement. As the weather starts to change and as advised by the Director Meteorology as of midday today (December 16), the weather will start changing.”
“More rain will come and if you need to move to an evacuation centre we are pleading that you move before it gets dark. Majority of it is open.”
Taking a more proactive approach, the Fijian government opened more than 1000 evacuation centres earlier than usual and pushed the message that citizens move at the slightest suspicion their homes may not be able to sustain the destructive winds forecasted.
“Please take yourself and your children and your valuable assets to the evacuation centre. The Fiji Police Force as well as the Republic of Fiji Military Forces are on standby to assist citizens.”
“When it enters Fiji waters, we anticipate the wind to be above 200 kilometres per hour and therefore any infrastructure that is weak that cannot withstand strong winds or winds strong enough to uproot trees.”
At 9pm on Wednesday, TC Yasa was at 300kilometres of Yasawa-i-rara or 370km northwest of Nadi and 340km south south west of Rotuma.
The Fiji Meteorology Office said at 11.30pm, winds close to the centre was 230km per hour with momentary gusts of up to 325kmph and moving east south east at 15kmph.
“On this track, the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 110km northwest of Yasawa-i-rara, about 200km north northwest of Nadi and 380km south of Rotuma at 9am tomorrow (Thursday December 17) and about 110km north of Suva and about 110km southwest of Labasa and 100km west northwest of Koro at 9pm.”
“Destructive winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead of nearby.”
Ms Soko said TC Yasa would be strong enough to uproot buildings which were not well secured and said property developers responsible for major construction sites in the Suva central business district had been directed to bring down cranes and bolster equipment.
She said the NDMO had issued letters to municipal councils to activate emergency operation measures which included bringing down the development or the equipment construction equipment, for the safety of labourers and nearby residents. That crane will come down before cat five hits us tomorrow.”
Meanwhile Fijian nationals currently in quarantine at hotels and resorts in the western division will remain there during the cyclone and comply with the disaster management plans of each establishment. This includes those who were to have been released this weekend pending clear tests for COVID19.
At 1039 evacuation centres nationwide, the Ministry of Health will dispatch teams to ensure social distancing measures instituted during TC Harold at the onset of the pandemic, will take place again.
