Suva, Feb 20 (IANS): Fiji declared a state of natural disaster on Saturday as severe tropical cyclone Winston hit the South Pacific island country, the government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) confirmed.
The declaration is effective for 30 days starting from Saturday, Xinhua quoted Meleti Bainimarama, permanent secretary for rural and maritime development and national disaster management, as saying.
"As your national disaster and controller who will be responsible for this operations and together with the Disaster Management Committee (DISMAC) machinery and resources of the government, we will do our best to maintain and uphold your interest and the interest of Fiji," Bainimarama said.