Fijian clean-up goes on

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 14

Fijian clean-up goes on

Story and pictures by

LES BLOXHAM

Fiji’s clean-up after cyclones Eric and Nigel is continuing this week. Thousands of islanders of all ages have been “picking up the pieces” from dawn to dusk since the cyclones slashed their, way through the north-west of Viti Levu, the main island, on January 17 and 19. Government relief workers estimate that most of the 7780 homes destroyed might not be rebuilt for at least another six months. Many still lie in mangled heaps of smashed timber and twisted roofing iron, awaiting inspection by insurance assessors. Work has begun on repairing some of the 9740 buildings damaged. Tarpaulins and sheets of green and yellow plastic have replaced temporarily the familiar corrugated iron roofing on many homes in the Nandi and Lautoka areas. Priority is being given to the rebuilding of schools and churches. Thousands of children spent the first week of their new term helping to clear away debris from wrecked classrooms. At one primary school near Nandi last Friday, 30 youngsters were creeping across their playground on hands and knees, painstakingly searching for fragments of broken glass. Nearby, Fijian soldiers were busy erecting plastic sheets over a framework of wood to form temporary classrooms. Twenty schools were demolished by the cyclones; scores more were badly damaged. Churches also suffered from the cyclones’ fury. “We are trying to obtain at least 20 large marquees to provide some protection for Sunday services,” said the commissioner for the western district, Mr Poseci Bune. “Religion is a vital part of our way of life: it is also important for the villagers to have a central meeting place.” Unfortunately for the islanders, this time of the year is the middle of their rainy season. While both temperatures and humidity are extremely high, torrential rain — often associated with violent thunderstorms — cascades across the islands in the late afternoon. The cyclones have not caused any health problems. Sewerage and high-pressure water services were not affected. Government health authorities have, however, issued warnings about the danger of tetanus infection through cuts' from broken glass. All tourist hotels, except several of the island resorts, are now open.