Tropical Cyclone Rae inflicted significant damage on Sawana village in Fiji’s Vanua Balavu, Lau province, as it moves south-southwest at approximately 15 km/h toward the south west of Tonga.
The Fiji Meteorological Service has issued multiple warnings, including heavy rain alerts for the entire Fiji group. Schools in the Lau Group, Lomaiviti, and Vanua Levu have been closed as a precaution.
Fitunoa Mateaki, the headman of Sawana village, reported extensive damage: “The whole village is full of debris, as the cyclone is passing by.” He noted that since early Monday morning, the community faced strong winds and rain, leading to uprooted trees and damaged homes.
Mateaki compared Cyclone Rae’s intensity to being “three-quarters” of what was experienced during Cyclone Winston in 2015.
The village’s primary food source has been devastated, prompting immediate concerns. “The immediate action after the cyclone passes is to clean up starting tomorrow… and start rebuilding the farm, to replant all the food crops because we rely on that,” Mateaki said.
He emphasized the urgent need for water and food supplies due to the complete destruction of their farm.
In Tuvuca, the village school, currently serving as an evacuation center, is sheltering about five families. Teacher Mereseini Waqali Tabaiwalu urged the government to provide food supplies and housing assistance, as several homes have been destroyed.
As Cyclone Rae category 2 continues its trajectory now passing the Niuas, Tonga’s meteorological service has issued warnings for rest of the Tonga island groups. No news of damages or death have been reported from Niuatoputapu or Niuafo’ou as of this morning.
Damaging gale-force winds and swells are expected to affect western waters until Wednesday morning.
