The smell of death is still in the air.

Surviving villagers of Nasau, Koro Island, are still stunned by the “winds and waves from hell”.  Although Cyclone Winston has moved away, the villagers still talk about its ferocity at its height on Saturday.

Many villagers hope it was a bad dream and it will go away. The monster cyclone may have gone but it has left behind a trail of destruction that reminds Nasau villagers of that fateful Saturday.

The emotions are still raw.

Villagers told their story yesterday as the Government relief ship MV Iloilovatu arrived off Nasau after an overnight run from Suva.

It brought urgent food supplies and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces engineers.

The engineers will help build shelters on devastated villages across Koro ,and clear roads.

Nasau elder and clan leader Viliame Dovu, 76, could not hide his feelings. Shedding tears, he spoke of the fury of the killer cyclone.

He confirmed that five people were dead and a child missing after huge waves swept through Nasau village.

Mr Dovu said the waves snatched four persons and the fifth, an elderly woman, succumbed to injuries she suffered after being hit by trees and flying debris while swimming for safety.

The dead were Vasemaca Bulimaibau, 69, Lenaitasi Gucake, 66, Luke Levacibau, 53, Inise Toganiyasawa, 6.

Mr Dovu said Winston laid waste to the village

“We have nothing else left now. The cyclone has destroyed all our future.

“This will be one that will be etched in the minds of our future generation,” an emotional Mr Dovu said.

“Our only source of income is copra, yaqona and the land.

“All these have been destroyed and we do not know how to live life now.”

More than 400 people live in Nasau, the biggest of the 14 villages on Koro.

Nasau is the financial and business hub of the island. It has the Government station and Koro High School.

Mr Dovu confirmed that all 90 houses in the village were destroyed or badly damaged in the cyclone.

“What has happened to our village really hurts us as elders of the village.”

Edited by Paula Tuvuki

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