Is It Safe To Go To Fiji Following Hurricane Winston?

The largest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, Cyclone Winston, caused widespread devastation across Fiji, affecting 62 of the population and causing F$2 billion in damage (20 GDP). It killed 44 people, injured hundreds, and left victims struggling to rebuild their lives six months after the Category 5 storm devastated large parts of the country. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is advising travelers to reconsider their need to travel to Fiji.

The World Health Organization continues to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) in the health response to Cyclone Winston by strengthening the Ministry’s health facilities. The cyclone season runs from November to April in Fiji. Top tips to stay safe and be prepared for wild weather in Fiji include making arrangements to evacuate if necessary, ensuring that all outer islands are equally susceptible to cyclones, and ensuring that tourist infrastructure works perfectly fine.

ISEP has confirmed that all students at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji are safe after Tropical Cyclone Winston made landfall. Although there was a lot of rebuilding work, everyone there is safe. A tale of exploring Fiji after a devastating cyclone found happy locals, great scuba diving, and beautiful reefs. The Maldives foreign minister urges the international community to stand with Fiji as it recovers from Cyclone Winston and prepare for future extreme weather impacts.

When not to go to Fiji?

Fiji’s warm tropical climate in the South Pacific offers year-round warm weather. The wet and dry seasons determine rainfall and good and bad weather. Clear blue skies are best from May to September, while October through April is the wet season, which is most at risk of cyclones. However, it also has the highest temperatures throughout the year. The best time to visit Fiji is from May through September, with the highest temperatures seen throughout the year.

Is Fiji safe from cyclone?

The cyclone hazard level in Fiji is classified as high, with over a 20% chance of damaging wind speeds in the next decade. This means that project planning, design, and construction must consider the level of cyclone hazard. Damages can occur due to wind, heavy rainfall, flooding, and coastal floods. Further detailed information is needed to account for the level of hazard.

Climate change impacts the global average tropical cyclone wind speed and rainfall, with the frequency of intense tropical cyclones likely to increase in the future. Projects in areas affected by tropical cyclones should be robust to future increases in hazard.

During the design and construction phases, consider purchasing a ‘builders risk’ insurance policy that covers aggregate weather hazards, including those related to cyclones. Look into recent cyclone events and assess whether they have caused damage to property under construction. Speak with other construction planners to learn about insurance coverage and the cost and benefits associated with it.

How do cyclones affect Fiji?

Fiji is a highly vulnerable nation to climate change and climate-related disasters, with significant environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts. The country is highly exposed to tropical cyclones, which often occur during the November-April wet season and are less common during El Niño periods. These cyclones often result in loss of life and economic damage, hindering economic growth. Fiji is also vulnerable to rising sea-levels, floods, and landslides.

The Government of Fiji reports that the scale of flood risk in Fiji is generally underreported due to the number of smaller-scale events that go unreported. The country’s natural hazards and socioeconomic impacts are assessed through spatial comparison of natural hazard data with development data, identifying exposed livelihoods and natural systems. Charts provide an overview of the most frequent natural disasters in a given country and their impacts on human populations.

Is it safe to travel to Fiji?

Tourists in urban and nightly areas, such as downtown Suva and Denarau Island, are at high risk of credit card fraud and skimming devices, so it’s crucial to be cautious and secure while visiting these attractions.

How did Cyclone Winston affect Fiji?

Cyclone Winston devastated Fiji, leaving tens of thousands homeless and prompting a major international humanitarian response. An estimated 350, 000 people, 40% of the nation’s population, were moderately or severely affected, including 120, 000 children. Approximately 250, 000 people required water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance due to power outages and damaged infrastructure. By 4 March, the number of people housed in evacuation centers dropped to 29, 237. The governments of Australia, France, and New Zealand responded with a large-scale relief effort, while other nations provided donations, supplies, and funds.

All schools across Fiji suspended classes for at least a week due to severe damage to the educational infrastructure. However, hundreds of schools resumed activities on 29 February, and all but 23 schools resumed classes by 8 March. The main airport, Nadi International Airport, was closed due to the cyclone but reopened two days after the storm. The Fiji Electricity Authority estimated it would take three weeks to restore service to most of the Western Division. Digicel set up battery charging stations in Suva on 22 February and restored telephone service to the main islands within two days of the storm.

The spread of breeding grounds for mosquitos led to an increase in dengue fever cases, but no large-scale outbreak resulted from the storm. Vegetable prices saw marked increases, in some cases by 500 percent, following Winston.

What is the risk of Fiji?

The risk level for the spread of the novel coronavirus in Fiji is currently classified as medium, reflecting the country’s vulnerability to the virus, in addition to the presence of other pre-existing crisis risks. These include high exposure to extreme natural events and sea-level rise, which are affecting a range of sectors, including the environment, gender, social inclusion, culture, and disaster risk reduction.

What category was cyclone Winston in Fiji?

Tropical Cyclone Winston hit Fiji on 20 and 21 February, causing a State of Natural Disaster for 60 days and affecting nearly 350, 000 people. The government of Fiji has led the overall response, activating Shelter Cluster Fiji to coordinate the shelter response. The Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment (MoLGH and E) led the response, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as the humanitarian co-lead agency.

A Shelter Coordination Team was deployed by IFRC to support the Ministry. As of July 2016, representatives from over 58 organizations and agencies attended Shelter Cluster Fiji meetings, and 29 organizations and agencies have reported shelter activities so far. Shelter Cluster Fiji partners, including the Government of Fiji, distributed over 27, 600 households worth of emergency shelter, including tents, tarpaulins, shelter kits, and tool kits, and over 50, 000 shelter items in total over the Flash Appeal period.

When was the last cyclone to hit Fiji?

On December 17, 2020, Fiji was struck by a Category 5 Cyclone, Yasa, which caused winds reaching 250 km/h and resulted in a nationwide curfew, including a ban on public transportation. As a result of the cyclone’s destructive impact, thousands of individuals were compelled to seek refuge in schools, which were designated as evacuation centers.

What month has the most cyclones in Fiji?

The RMSC-Nadi TCC AO R’s peak TC season is typically observed between January and March; however, TCs have the potential to form at any point during this period.

Is Fiji safe from tsunami?

Fiji, an island nation situated in a coastal region, is particularly vulnerable to the impact of tsunamis. This vulnerability is attributed to the presence of coral reefs along its coastline, which serve to dissipate the energy generated by tsunamis outside of their immediate vicinity.