Cycone Evan Aftermath

Can anybody who's already in-country tell me what is the latest from Fiji after Evan has passed?
I'm due to get on a plane on Thursday (20th Dec) and Air Pacific are saying that flights are not affected.
I don't want to make the situation worse by turning up in the middle of a disaster zone - but I'm also aware that my tourist dollars would no doubt be welcomed in the reconstruction that will inevitably follow.
Is it too soon to turn up and expect some semblance of normality - or would I be better advised to cancel and come back later in the year?
My schedule was going to be a night or two in Nadi getting over the jetlag, maybe a few days down at the Beach House, then head over to the Yasawas and Mamanucas for about 10 days.
In about a week's time surely the seas will have calmed - but have the hotels on the islands been savaged beyond immediate repair?
I'll try and call around tomorrow - but I'm thinking the phone system may still be down, so any on-the-ground comments would be appreciated.
Finally, the latest news is that there are no reported fatalities, so we're obviously all grateful for that, but my condolences go out to anybody who has suffered loss of property, livestock or injury. "Vanuinui vinaka !!"

Badger- I'm not in Fiji, however have seen video on various news sites. Evan's winds were between
100 and 175mph and uprooted trees, tore roofs off buildings, and caused local flooding. The airlines
were planning to resume flights today. Some of the roads are closed due to scattered debris (including
Sigatoka) so moving about Viti Levu is problematic. There also were power and phone outages reported.
Thankfully, I have not read of any immediate reports of fatalities.
You may find these websites useful: Fijitimes.com BBCnews.com NZHerald.co.nz News.com.au

Radio Fiji has a good deal of detailed news reports. FBC.com.fj

Hi
I'm due to fly on the same day as you and have the same predicament! If you learn anything more, I'd be grateful if you'd post it, and I'll do the same.
I've just mailed the hotel I've booked too for an update.

News from Octopus Resort on Waya - lots of vegetation damage so a big clean-up to do, no damage to buildings. Still no contact with Nacula further north - but hoping they are much the same as Octopus.

Communication and power is still down in many places. Information is just starting to trickle in.

A good local news website is FijiVillage (link below) as well as the Fiji Times advised by another poster.

http://www.fijivillage.com/

There are also lots of discussions on TripAdvisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g294331-i883-Fiji.html

If you're thinking of travelling to outer islands you should keep an eye on South Sea Cruises site.

https://sites.google.com/site/sscaafservices/

Turning up at resorts without bookings may be a problem in the next few weeks.

Thanks for the update...

We have been trying to contact friends in Nadi and Lautoka this morning.
No success so far.

Cheers,
Peter

Communication and power is still down in many places. Information is just starting to trickle in.

A good local news website is FijiVillage (link below) as well as the Fiji Times advised by another poster.

http://www.fijivillage.com/

There are also lots of discussions on TripAdvisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g294331-i883-Fiji.html

If you're thinking of travelling to outer islands you should keep an eye on South Sea Cruises site.

https://sites.google.com/site/sscaafservices/

Turning up at resorts without bookings may be a problem in the next few weeks.

Apologies for double post - there must be a glitch.

Edited by: agingaquarian

Duplicate

Edited by: Peter_n_Margaret

Nadi town has been closed until services are available.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=220518

Cheers,
Peter

How great to see your posts JB and Peter & Margaret. From news reports it looks like the winds did a lot of damage in Lautoka and up to RakiRaki and some of the offshore islands. Many Fijians lost their homes - 600 in Lautoka alone. Thousands are still in shelters. The Fiji RedCross is appealing for us to help-

Managed a short 'phone call to a friend in Lautoka a few hours ago via their Vodafone mobile.

Cheers,
Peter

Just saw palettes of supplies being loaded onto planes headed for Fiji on the ABC news.

We have some news from Lautoka that is better than we anticipated.
All the staff and their families from the Daycare Centre where we worked are safe and well.
Of their homes, one house destroyed, one damaged and one OK.
Surprisingly the Daycare Centre building seems to have basically survived according to a quick look from the outside.
It will be good to hear that it is full of kids again.

Cheers,
Peter

Good news, Peter N Margaret. Will they be able to get help to rebuild the homes?

I doubt it.......

Lautoka is "back in business"....
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=220607

"DESPITE being the hardest hit, Lautoka City was back in business two days after Tropical Cyclone Evan swept through the Western Division.

Lautoka City Council special administrator Praveen Bala said this would not have been possible without the assistance of the government, security forces, corrections services and private sector organisations.

City streets littered with broken branches, broken pieces of roofing material and debris were removed literally overnight while downed electricity lines were raised and power restored within two days.

"We are open for business. Just after a massive cyclone hit our city, which many have said was one of the worst on record, Lautoka City shops opened their doors, electricity was restored within the central business district and the city streets were cleared of debris," he said."
Cheers,
Peter

Flew into Nadi today...all good. Buses running on time.
Hotel is good too...minimal disruption