India extends USD 1 million as immediate aid to cyclone-hit Fiji

New Delhi: Cyclone-hit Fiji will receive one million dollars as immediate assistance from the Indian Government.

This was disclosed by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Tuesday on twitter.

Fiji has been struck by “Cyclone Winston” which brought with it wind gusts of 325 kilometres per hour and sea and ocean waves up to 12 metres high.

The area’s crops and several villages have been flattened completely by the natural calamity.

So far, 29 people have reportedly died and many others have been shifted to evacuation centres.

Considerable damage is being reported from the main Fijian islands of Viti Levu and Koro after they were hit by strong winds directly.

As aid efforts intensified, communications were established with some of the worst-hit remote communities, revealing the scale of the disaster. Officials say the Pacific nation’s recovery from the devastating storm could take months.

Power is gradually being restored in the main centres and roads cleared of felled trees. The international airport at Nadi also reopened yesterday, allowing international tourists caught up in the disaster to return home. (ANI with inputs)