Fiji-born Bay residents pray kin safe
Anxious wait for word of whether loved ones come through brutal cyclone alive
ABay of Plenty woman waiting to hear news of her Fijian family caught up in the devastating Cyclone Yasa says she is “praying for a miracle”.
The fatal cyclone is continuing to wreak havoc on Fiji with wind gusts of 275km/h. Two people have died so far, according to Fijian authorities.
Fijian-born Talei Kolibasoga, who works for the Rotorua Pacific Islands Development Charitable Trust, said she was “extremely worried” for her elderly parents.
Peniana and Waqabivalua Cokanasiga, both aged in their 80s, lived in the village of Debua on the island of Viti Levu, she said.
The village was near a river mouth close to the beach, on the southern side of the island, facing out to sea towards New Zealand, Kolibasoga said.
“I think the last update I saw was they were experiencing 40-50 knot winds but the last time I heard from my parents was when I spoke to Dad around noon on Thursday.
“He sounded worried but I think Dad was trying to make it sound not as bad as it was, and he told me they were doing okay, had shelter, water, candles and torches and food supplies for now.
“He also told me that he was confident their house would hold up, and they and other villagers were sheltering in a community hall nearby.”
Kolibasoga said any essential supplies her parents might need to buy would be at least a 15-minute
drive away if the roads were even passable.
She said a few of her mother’s relatives were living on Lakeba Island and there had not been any update on how they were faring either.
Kolibasoga said she also had other family members in Suva, including her uncle whom she last heard from on Thursday afternoon, when he had told her they were all doing okay.
“Because the network is down we can only now rely on media reports for updates.”
Kolibasoga said she, her older brother and sister were desperately waiting for more news that their loved ones were all safe and well, particularly their parents.
“I’m praying for a miracle,” a tearful Kolibasoga said.
Fijian-born Anamaria Lasaqa, 46, is an outpatient practitioner advocate with the Pacific Island
Community (Tauranga) Trust.
She said her mother — in her late 60s — her younger brother and sister, her niece and two nephews were hunkering down in the village of Ovalau, about a halfhour boat ride from Viti Levu — Fiji’s second-largest island — and a two-hour drive from Suva.
“Because the network is down, I’m having to rely on news reports which say they [the village] were hit, but are all doing okay at the moment,” she said.
“But it’s still very worrying and scary as we don’t really know what’s happening. While Cyclone Yasa has been downgraded it could easily change direction and get stronger.”
Lasaqa said she also had 30 to 40 relatives living in Suva, Nadi and Lautoka and had messaged them but not heard back. However, she had spoken to an aunt on Thursday.
“She and my uncle, who are both in their 60s, are now in isolation for two weeks after they flew back to Nadi on December 10, after my uncle had some medical treatment here.
“My aunt says they are doing okay but I’m still worried Cyclone Yasa will intensify again as it’s cyclone season in the islands from November to March,” she said.
“Fortunately our village, Ovalau, sits in a basin surrounded by a mountain range and I am praying that means it will offer a bit of protection to my family and other villagers.”
Lasaqa said Cyclone Yasa could not have come at a worse time for her homeland.
Fiji was still recovering from Cyclone Winston, before being hit with coronavirus “meaning Mum couldn’t visit us in July, and now Cyclone Yasa . . .
“It’s like a double-whammy blow”.
In 2016, at least 20 people were killed in Cyclone Winston.
Radio NZ reported more than 93,000 Fijians had been affected by Yasa as it swept across Bua Province and the rest of Vanua Levu before tracking through the central Lau islands.
Assessment teams were yet to get to all affected areas but there had been two deaths so far, and nearly 24,000 people were sheltering in 456 evacuation centres.
"I think Dad was trying tomake it sound not as bad as it was."
Talei Kolibasoga