Fiji’s Cyclone Winston: 20 Killed, Death Toll Could Rise

The damage to Mudu village on Koro Island after the most powerful cyclone in Fiji’s history battered the Pacific island nation (AFP Photo/)

The death toll from the Fiji Cyclone rises up to 20 people on Monday, as authorities began to reach the hard-hit outer islands.

According to the Weather Underground website, the category five Cyclone Winston is the strongest storm in the Southern Hemisphere since record-keeping began.

Please click the photos for larger images:

The damage to Mudu village on Koro Island after the most powerful cyclone in Fiji’s history battered the Pacific island nation (AFP Photo/)

In this Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016 aerial photo supplied by the New Zealand Defense Force, debris is scattered around damaged buildings at Susui village in Fiji, after Cyclone Winston tore through the island nation. Fijians were finally able to venture outside Monday after authorities lifted a curfew but much of the country remained without electricity in the wake of a ferocious cyclone that left at least six people dead and destroyed hundreds of homes. (New Zealand Defense Force via AP) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A beachside villa and trees lay destroyed following high winds caused by Cyclone Winston at the Tokoriki Island Resort in Fiji, February 21, 2016. Fijian officials were assessing the damage on Sunday after one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the archipelago, with early reports of widespread disruption and one confirmed death. REUTERS/Sarah Bingham/Handout via ReutersATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A combination image shows the beachfront villa of tourist Sarah Bingham on February 17, 2016 (L) and after Cyclone Winston struck February 21, 2016 (R) at the Tokoriki Island Resort in Fiji. Fijian officials were assessing the damage on Sunday after one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the archipelago, with early reports of widespread disruption and one confirmed death. REUTERS/Sarah Bingham/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A fruit and vegetable market damaged by Cyclone Winston reopens for the first time in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston in Fiji’s capital, Suva, February 22, 2016. Fiji began a massive cleanup on Monday after one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation, flattening remote villages, cutting off communications and killing at least 10 people. REUTERS/Sarah Boxall – CARE Australia/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A remote Fijian village is photographed from the air during a surveillance flight conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force on February 21, 2016. Fiji began a massive cleanup on Monday after Cyclone Winston, one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation, flattening remote villages, cutting off communications and killing at least 10 people. REUTERS/NZ Defence Force/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A remote Fijian village is photographed from the air during a surveillance flight conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force after Cyclone Winston on February 21, 2016. Fiji began a massive cleanup on Monday after one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation, flattening remote villages, cutting off communications and killing at least 10 people. REUTERS/NZ Defence Force/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PICTURE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY. AN UNPROCESSED VERSION HAS BEEN PROVIDED SEPARATELY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE.

Category 5 Cyclone Winston Hit Fiji, 5 Killed

A family digs through the remains of their home in the town of Ba, after it was destroyed by severe tropical cyclone Winston, the only category five storm system to ever hit Fiji, on February 21, 2016 (AFP Photo/Naziah Ali)

A category five tropical cyclone Winston hit Fiji on Saturday, killing at least five people and causing lots of damage to the country’s infrastructure.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the powerful cyclone packed wind gusts approaching 300 kilometres per hour.

Winston is the most powerful cyclone that was recorded to hit Fiji.

There are unconfirmed reports saying that thousands of homes had been destroyed and entire villages flattened but the authorities can only assess the damage after communications are re-established.

Here are some photos of the aftermath…

People are splashed by a wave whipped up by the encroaching cyclone Winston in Labasa, Fiji, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. The Pacific island nation of Fiji is hunkering down as a formidable cyclone with winds of 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour approaches. (Luke Rawalai/Fiji Times via AP) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, FIJI OUT

Buildings and trees are damaged after Cyclone Winston swept through the town of Ba on Fiji’s Viti Levu Island, February 21, 2016. REUTERS/Jay Dayal

A tree blocks a road after it was blown down by the encroaching cyclone Winston in Nakasi, Fiji, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. The Pacific island nation of Fiji is hunkering down as a formidable cyclone with winds of 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour approaches. (Jonacani Lalakobau/Fiji Times via AP) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, FIJI OUT

Toppled trees lie on a road in Tamavua, Suva, after the most powerful cyclone in Fiji’s history battered the Pacific island nation, on February 21, 2016 (AFP Photo/-)

Fiji began a massive clean-up on February 21, 2016, after the most powerful cyclone in its history battered the Pacific island nation, killing at least one person and leaving a trail of destruction (AFP Photo/UNICEF Pacific)

A family digs through the remains of their home in the town of Ba, after it was destroyed by severe tropical cyclone Winston, the only category five storm system to ever hit Fiji, on February 21, 2016 (AFP Photo/Naziah Ali)

Tropical Cyclone Ului Is Going To Australia

Tropical Cyclone Ului is expected to hit North Queensland, Australia early Sunday.

It is expected to cause strong winds of 170 km per hour (105 miles per hour) and heavy rains.

Strong winds can damage tress, plants and not very strong houses.

The heavy rains can cause flooding.

This is a disaster.

There may be very high waves too as what happened in Fiji during Tropical Cyclone Tomas.

Tropical Cyclone Ului hit Solomon Islands earlier this week.

It caused floods and the strong winds damaged and destroyed homes, plants and trees.

People in the areas may have to move so that they won’t be hit by the storm.

I think that somebody should help them to move from there by super sonic jets.

Super sonic jets can fly faster!

Tropical Cyclone Tomas Hit Fiji

Tomas Cyclone hit Fiji

Tropical Cyclone Tomas hit the northern islands of Fiji on Monday evening.

It brought very strong wind; about 275 km an hour or 170 miles an hour.

It also brought very heavy rain.

It is a Category 4 storm which is the second strongest storm.

The Category 5 storm is the strongest of all.

It is expected to bring heavy rain and strong wind to Suva.

Suva is the capital of Fiji.

It is on the main island named Viti Levu.

The very strong wind can blow away houses that are not strongly built.

A hospital roof was blown away by the strong wind.

The storm caused huge waves as high as 8 meters.

Cikoba Island felt the full force of the storm.

All contact to the island has been lost.

The schools are closed until Tuesday.

Cyclone is a natural disaster.

I think we should try to help them as soon as possible.