Rohit Deo
17 December, 2020, 11:22 am
People making their way to the evacuation centre at Vashist Muni Memorial Primary School this morning, December 17, 2020. Picture: ROHIT DEO
More than 150 evacuees are taking shelter at the Vashist Muni Memorial Primary School in Navua which is being used as an evacuation centre.
When the Fiji Times Online team visited the centre this morning, people from surrounding areas of Wainividio, Tadeva and Vakacegu settlement were at the school as more made way.
Police officers were on site monitoring the movement of people.
Some of the residents have been taking shelter at the venue from last night.
Talebula Kate
Image: FIJI TIMES ONLINE
Fiji has been declared a State of Natural Disaster.
This was confirmed by National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko at a press conference today.
“The declaration of Tropical Cyclone Yasa as a natural disaster under the Natural Disaster Management Act 1998 is now in force and is effective from 16 December 2020, for a period of 30 days,” Ms Soko said.
“This declaration will come with regulations,” she said.
Ms Soko said they would release a media statement regarding the regulations that would accompany the state of declaration.
“One of the key priorities in that is it allows the National Disaster Management Office to call all of Government’s asset to be on standby and to be mobilised,” Ms Soko said.
The Fiji Times » TC Yasa: Strong winds begin to weaken in Nuku Village fijitimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fijitimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Luke Rawalai
Image: FIJI TIMES ONLINE
Evacuees within a school block in Nasavu, Bua, had to be moved to a separate school block after the roof of their refuge was blown away at the height of TC Yasa this evening.
Nasavu villager Miriama Ratu said elderlies in the village and other villagers were evacuated to the teachers’ quarters in the school compound.
Ms Ratu said at around 8pm, winds abated again before it picked up force.
“Compared to TC Winston that devastated the village in 2016, TC Yasa was stronger and lasted much longer,” she told
Fiji Times Online tonight.
Another villager Kiri Maiburesa confirmed that six houses were destroyed by strong winds this evening.
Luke Nacei
Villagers of Nakorokula in Ra sheltering in their village hall. Picture: SUPPLIED/Solo Tubuitamana
Strong winds and heavy rainfall have forced the people of Nakorokula in Ra to move to their community hall for shelter.
Speaking to
The Fiji Times, villager Soloveni Tubuitamana said trees had also been blown away due to the strong winds.
And while the villagers are hoping for the best, Mr Tubuitamana said they had prepared all their essential needs to sustain them during this period of time.
Talica Dulaki who lives in Nananu-i-Ra said strong winds began from early this morning.
“Because we are surrounded by the sea, the wind here is no joke and we are just hoping for the best,” Ms Dulaki said.