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Some Fiji Flights Resume Following Tropical Cyclone Winston

By Adam Leposa Feb 22, 2016 1:00am
Flights Natural Disasters Tourist Bureau weather
hurricane
Photo by Freeimages.com/Maarten des Wispelaere

At least 21 people were killed when Tropical Cyclone Winston made landfall as a Category 5 storm in Fiji on Saturday, Weather.com reports. More than 8,000 people are in shelters, and severe flooding and winds have left many areas without power, fresh water or communications. Additionally, damage to the Nabouwalu and Savusavu wharves has made transportation to and from the Northern Division difficult. The wharves will be shut down for a few months for repairs. 

Hotel Updates

According to a statement released late Sunday by Tourism Fiji, all visitors are "safe and comfortable." 

"There are no reports of any significant structural damage to the majority of hotels in Viti Levu, except for some properties in the Rakiraki area," said The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya. "Cyclone Winston has caused extensive damage to the communications infrastructure, hence, mobile and Internet communications in some parts of Fiji maybe affected. However, communication is active in Suva, Nadi, Denarau and along the Coral Coast.”

Tourism Fiji has also issued the following updates on hotel and attraction reopenings via Twitter and Facebook:

 

Bula Vinaka.The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa has sustained some damage however the property remains open with...

Posted by The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa on Sunday, February 21, 2016
 

To all concerned members of the public, we have temporarily lost communication with the resort and everyone in Savusavu town. We will advise status after TC Winston as soon as we know what is happening.

Posted by Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort on Saturday, February 20, 2016

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savusavu reported on its Facebook page Saturday that communication had temporarily been lost with the resort and Savusavu town. Travel Agent has reached out to the resort for the latest update on the situation.

Air Travel

As of Monday morning, some flights have resumed from Fiji, according to 9News.com. Virgin Australia has resumed all flights between Nadi International Airport and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Air New Zealand has added capacity to flights between Auckland and Nadi, and Fiji Airways is operating flights between Nadi and Auckland, as well as some flights between Nadi and Sydney. JetStar cancelled its flights Monday between Sydney and Nadi, expecting to resume operations on Tuesday.

Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for the latest updates to this developing story.

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