Cyclone begins to weaken after lashing Fiji
Category Featured, World | Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
SUVA, Fiji — Cyclone Tomas’ onslaught on Fiji began to weaken Tuesday, but a state of emergency was declared in the hardest-hit areas as the storm battered the South Pacific nation’s northern outer islands, knocking out power and forcing thousands of people into shelters.
With communications cut to outer islands and to northern areas of Vanua Levu, the group’s second-biggest island, the scope of destruction likely will not be known until at least Wednesday, officials said. One death has been reported, and a nationwide curfew was still in effect.
Fiji’s National Disaster Council declared a 30-day state of emergency for the country’s northern and eastern divisions Tuesday, ordering troops to be deployed as soon as possible to provide relief, including food, water and basic supplies.