This is the view from our hotel room at the Sheraton Resort on Denarau Island, Nadi, Fiji where we are enjoying a lovely vacation. This afternoon we found out that a Cyclone is coming our way.
This is the pool area the day before the storm.
As the sun sets the sand begins to blow down the beach, and the palm trees begin to get whipped about in the wind.
Although the sunset is quite pretty, the upcoming storm will prove to be quite ugly.
The winds were gusting up to 130 Km per hour during the night and we could hear the roar outside of our ground floor hotel room. Some hotel guests, including some of our group, were completely flooded out of their rooms. The hotel once informed of the flooding, found alternate rooms for the guests.
The damage around our room was limited to the palm trees. Note in this picture below that the lounge chairs have been lashed to the palm trees by the hotel maintenance staff, in preparation for the storm.
Closer to the main buildings larger trees gave way due to the saturated soil and wind.
Flooding extended into the lower areas of the complex.
The pool, where we had enjoyed our morning acqucise classes has now flooded, and the water is nearing the main lobby.
As the storm rages on, the clean-up has already started.
News Paper Reports of Cyclone Gene
Cyclone Gene wreaks havoc
January 30, 2008 - 11:51AM
January 30, 2008 - 11:51AM
Authorities in Fiji have begun restoring power and water after Cyclone Gene struck the country yesterday, killing as many as seven people.
Sea and air transport was also restored across Fiji today, allowing tourists trapped by the storm to begin leaving.
Cyclone Gene created havoc across Fiji and caused widespread blackouts and flooding after it hit and strengthened to a category two storm.
Fiji's emergency services were yesterday called into action after homes were destroyed by the cyclone, and water and power shortages affected much of the country.
Mesake Mataitoga from Fiji's Disaster Management Office said power and water were now working in many areas affected by the cyclone, although it was unlikely services would be fully restored for some days yet.
Gene was downgraded to a category one storm today, and was on track to hit the Vanuatu island of Tanna tomorrow at 11am.
Mr Mataitoga said the death toll in Fiji could be as high as seven, although it was still unknown whether these were all directly related to the cyclone.
Among the dead were a 13-year-old girl who drowned while swimming in rough seas and a 16-year-old girl who died from an unknown illness, after her parents could not take her to hospital because of flooded roads.
An 81-year-old-man also died after his house caught fire, thought to be a result of a kerosene lantern blowing over in the strong winds.
Two men were electrocuted to death, possibly from powerlines that fell in the strong winds.
A fisherman was found dead in a boat, while a two-month-old baby is thought to have died while being evacuated from the storm.
Tourists at popular getaways in the Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands were today able to begin leaving the islands, said Lance Millar from the Nanuya Island Resort.
An Air Fiji spokeswoman confirmed domestic flights in Fiji, with the exception of those out of Koro Airport, were again operational.
International flights out of Nadi are also believed to be running on schedule.
Alipate Waqaicelua from the Fiji Meteorological Service said this morning Gene was about 490 kilometres east of Tanna Island, in Vanuatu.
He said although the cyclone had reduced in intensity, it could again strengthen before hitting land.
Source: AAP
Tourists stranded in Fiji as Cyclone Gene strikes
Article from: AAP
January 29, 2008 11:28am
TOURISTS in the popular Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups in Fiji have been stranded by tropical cyclone Gene, which killed two men when it hit last night.
Gene, a category two storm, formed just north of Fiji's second largest island Vanua Levu yesterday.
Overnight the storm strengthened from category one and struck the main tourist centre of Nadi about midnight (11pm Melbourne time), causing flash flooding and flattening homes.
Two electricity workers were killed when hit by falling power lines near Lautoka, north of Nadi.
The storm then tracked west and buffeted tourist resorts in the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups, as well as Vatulele Island, where there is a luxury resort.
Today those islands were warned to brace for gusts of up to 140km/h.
Abi Puisasa from the Beachcomber Island Resort, in the, said guests were unable to leave because rough seas made a trip to Fiji's largest island Viti Levu dangerous.
She said guests at the hotel were kept in a special dormitory last night to ensure they were safe as Cyclone Gene struck the region.
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