Anxious Fijians wait for news

Dead phone lines are causing anxiety for Marlborough Fijians desperately seeking news about their family members, who are caught up in the worst storm to hit their home country in decades.

Blenheim resident Wati Raisua said she had still not made contact with her younger brother Jouseve, his wife and their four children, aged eight to 16.

Jouseve's family live on Vanua Levu, worst hit by cyclone Tomas, one of two cyclones raging in the Pacific.

Vanua Levu is northeast of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu.

"I'm very worried. It's not good at all. I'm not sure whether they have survived or not," Mrs Raisua said.

"I'm just waiting for the news to come from them."

Jouseve is the third-eldest of eight siblings in her family, and the only one who lived on Vanua Levu. However, she also had extended family members and friends in the area.

She said she was able to get through to her sister-in-law Akanisi, who lived in Suva, for news, but had not been able to reach anyone in Vanua Levu.

There were "really strong winds" in Suva, she said.

Fijian Onolevu Temo, who plays for the Marlborough Red Devils rugby team, was concerned about his mother, Vasiti, and his three siblings who lived in the Lau Islands, near the area that was worst hit.

"I've been trying to ring them but it rings a couple of times, then cuts out."

Mr Temo lived in the Lau Islands until he was 14. His family lived on the high side of the area, about 30 or 40 metres above the sea.

"So I'm hoping they will be safe. But I don't really know at the moment. I'm a little bit worried."

He said cyclones regularly happened in the area, but there had not been a big one for a while.

"I'm just going to keep on trying to call them."

 Sea surge claims a life, page 11

- The Marlborough Express

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