Fiji cyclone death toll rises to 36: Red Cross

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SUVA: The death toll from the Fiji super-cyclone hit 36 on Wednesday, with fears it will continue to climb as relief teams reach isolated communities, the Red Cross said.

“Officially now it is 36 dead,” the acting head of the Red Cross’s Pacific office Ahmad Sami told AFP. “The numbers will continue to change as we have better access to information and establish communications.”

Severe tropical cyclone Winston lashed the Pacific nation overnight Saturday, packing wind gusts of 325 kilometres (202 miles) per hour and leaving a trail of destruction.