Cyclone Winston: Australian holidaymakers 'feared for their lives' in Fiji's category five storm

Updated

Australians in Fiji have described the "harrowing" experience of Tropical Cyclone Winston, thought to be the biggest storm to ever hit the Southern Hemisphere.

Key points Thousands of Australians expected to be in Fiji during Tropical Cyclone Winston

Holidaymaker describes fearing for his life

Flights out of Nadi airport still cancelled

Aid agencies and government officials are today assessing the damage caused by the category five cyclone after strong winds and high seas pummelled the island nation, causing widespread damage.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the ABC's Insiders program at least 1,300 Australians were registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being in Fiji but the number was expected to be much higher.

Canberra residents Shea and Neil Price were holidaying on the island of Matamanoa before evacuating to the main island of Viti Levu as the eye of the storm tracked towards them.

Their room in a hotel in tourist hub Nadi was evacuated after Winston made landfall on Viti Levu and residents spent the night in the ballroom.

"I was very scared and in fear for my life," Mr Price said.

"Being told a category five cyclone was going to hit us directly and all we could do was sit and wait, that was hard.

"I've watched far too many tropical cyclone movies, I think, and I was very worried about being in a category five which was apparently the worst in Fiji history. We were expecting the worst."

Nadi, although experiencing extremely high winds and torrential rain, escaped passing under the eye of the storm directly and Mr Price said the guests' fears were allayed in the early hours of the morning when they were allowed back in their rooms.

Melbourne couple Jeremy and Nicky Bree were also evacuated from diving destination Matamanoa back to the mainland, finding a hotel in Denarau.

Mr Bree said although their hotel held up under the wind — which at the centre of the cyclone reached up to 330 kilometres per hour — surrounding trees were ripped out of the ground.

"It was pretty amazing just looking out and seeing the wind gusts just absolutely buffeting the trees," he said.

"The noise around was something I've never heard before, it was a real harrowing whine that came through. It was pretty amazing.

"We closed everything up and just waited it out. There was not much more we could do from there."

Elsewhere in Fiji there are reports of entire villages being flattened, and state media has confirmed the death of at least one person.

Flights out of Fiji to resume Monday

Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Fiji's national carrier Fiji Airways cancelled all flights in and out of Nadi airport before the cyclone hit on Saturday.

The official advice from the Australian Government still remains "reconsider your need to travel" to Fiji due to the impact of Cyclone Winston.

Virgin Australia said in a statement conditions would be "suitable for flying in and out of Nadi" by Monday.

The other two airlines are not expected to resume flights until at least Monday.

The Brees were put on a flight for Monday morning which had not been cancelled.

"All going well, as long as this wind dies off between now and then, I'm sure the airport will reopen and let us out, so I'm hoping that booking stays," Mr Bree said.

There has been no official assessment of damage done to Nadi airport but early reports indicated the infrastructure was spared any long-lasting damage.

"We're being looked after. I wouldn't call it a holiday, I'd call it an experience, that's for sure," Mr Price said.

"I think there's a lot more people a lot worse-off in some of the villages, so we're very lucky to be here and being looked after."

Topics: cyclones, cyclone, fiji, pacific, australia

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