Cyclone Winston spared American Samoa but Fiji was not so lucky.
The death toll from Cyclone Winston now stands at 21, and it is feared that number will rise further when communication is restored to outlying islands.
The most powerful storm in the country’s recorded history barrelled into Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu and neighboring smaller islands late on Saturday, destroying entire villages, flooding low-lying areas, and wiping out crops.
Fiji’s public broadcaster FBC News on Monday reported that 21 people were confirmed dead – at least 10 of whom were killed in the hard-hit Western Division.
Among them were three people who died on Viti Levu and a 97-year-old who drowned during storm surges at the height of the storm.
Four others were hit by flying debris and one died after a house collapsed.
Four people were still missing at sea.
A 30-day state of emergency is in place across the country in the aftermath of the cyclone, and schools and universities are closed until the end of the week.
The local Fijian community is planning to raise funds for their homeland.
