TC Harold

They are helping the three Pacific countries battered by Cyclone Harold last week, Vanuatu, Tonga, and Fiji.

But the executive director of the Council of International Development, Josie Pagani, said that during the lockdown the charities aren't able to fundraise and the public can't donate.

She said the international aid charities typically get about two thirds of their revenue from public donations.

Cyclone Harold, the worst to hit Vanuatu since deadly Cyclone Pam in 2015, has wrecked around 70 percent of the buildings in Luganville, and much of the vegetation.

Over 1700 people remained in evacuation centres in Fiji today following the severe tropical cyclone.

The storm passed through the country last Tuesday and Wednesday as a category four system.

Most evacuees are in 29 shelters in the smaller islands of the Eastern Division where, last night, 1067 people remained.

Central and Western Divisions held 384 and 252 displaced people respectively between 32 shelters.

The Northern Division had been given the all-clear but remained under Covid-19 restrictions.

When the severe cyclone hit, it coincided with a king tide, which caused considerable coastal damage.

The chief executive of the National Emergency Management Office, Paula Ma'u, said on 'Eua this wrecked a number of houses and offices and also eroded a graveyard.

He said some of the bodies had been recovered but others had been swept out to sea.

Mr Ma'u said people whose homes were inundated on 'Eua and also around Tongatapu's Fanga'uta Lagoon, had been rehoused in tents and supplied with kitchen equipment.

This is part of their response to the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold.

In a latest statement, the organization expressed appreciation for their volunteers who put in the extra effort to make the distributions successful.

The First Aid Bystanders in Eua Island have successfully helped transfer patients case to the Navy boat to be taken to Tongatapu, since the wharf at Eua has been damaged by TC Harold.

The island was the worst affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold on Thursday.

Volunteers teamed up with villagers to distribute goods such as tarpaulins, shelter kits and hygiene kits to each households.

Response Team in Tongatapu also stocked up their vehicles ready to deploy into the assessed communities including Hahake District and one team in Patangata area in the central area.

Vakaloa Beach Resort in Tongatapu was severely impacted by king tides on 9 April, which coincided with the severe cyclone that tore through Tonga.

Owners John Fiusati and Marianne Tukuafu were unavailable to talk to RNZ Pacific, but the mother of John expressed sadness at what had happened to the resort.

Katinia Taulanga Tukuafu said her family were all well and safe, but were still in shock of what had happened.

"The whole building is wrecked and so are their computers, so they won't be able to communicate as much as they would like to."

Tonga felt the brunt of Cyclone Harold this morning as the storm, packing gusts of up to 260 km/hr, passed to the south of Nuku'alofa.

The cyclone had already devastated the central islands of Vanuatu and parts of Fiji.

Cyclone Harold weakened slightly between Vanuatu and Fiji, but overnight it re-intensified and struck at the same time as king tides were due in the kingdom, increasing the likelihood of damaging surges.

RNZ Pacific's correspondent Kalafi Moala is based in Nuku'alofa and he said there was heavy rain and strong winds in the capital this morning.

However, there have been no fatalities recorded.  

Village headman, Jiuta Vodo said the destruction caused by TC Harold is worse than their experience with TC Winston in 2016.  

Vodo also said it was the first time for most elders to experience such a cyclone. 

“Nothing else is left in our plantation, all the root crops have been uprooted by the strong winds. We really need help. I am pleading with the government to help us now because we have nothing else left.” 

Reports from Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa say strong winds were being felt there and there were power outages in some areas.

Tonga's government has announced a State of Emergency because of Cyclone Harold - the second in a month.

In March the government made a similar declaration to help prevent the introduction of Covid-19 into the kingdom.

Late yesterday, in a statement, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa said as an emergency was about to happen due to the destructive force winds and sea rises caused by the cyclone, it was necessary to make another declaration.

At 9am today local time, Harold - a category four storm - was located just west of the main island Viti Levu.

Misa Funaki, of the Fiji Meteorological Service, said Harold is now trekking southeast and is expected to cause more damage.

Mr Funaki said a hurricane force wind warning remains for Kadavu and southern Lau while a strong wind warning is in force for the rest of the country.

"There have been reports from Yasawa of huge tidal waves there," he said.

"There have been structural damage and mass flooding in some areas.