Cyclone Keni hits Fiji, 18,000 in evacuation centres

Fiji, April 11 (IANS) More than 18,000 people are still staying at Fiji evacuation centres after tropical cyclone Keni hit the country a day earlier with heavy rain and destructive winds, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said on Wednesday.

NDMO said most evacuees will only return to their homes when it is safe, Xinhua news agency reported.

Anare Leweniqila, Director of NDMO, said the impact of Keni on Fiji was still unknown and their focus right now was to provide emergency services to the affected people.

Fiji's Kadavu Island suffered a direct hit and devastation to homes and plantation from Keni with its highly destructive winds wiping out homes, uprooting trees and capsizing boats on the south side of the island.

Keni also caused the death of one man in Ba, a town in western Fiji.

Currently, 90 roads across Fiji remained closed due to damage caused by heavy rain and flooding while all schools in the western part and Kadavu island that were being used as evacuation centres were also closed.

Keni is the second tropical cyclone to hit Fiji in just over a week after tropical cyclone Josie caused six deaths over the Easter long weekend.