Cyclone Harold, a category 5 storm packing winds in excess of 251 km/h, (around 155.97 mph) hit Tonga early on Thursday, cutting power and destroying popular holiday resorts. Tonga Police posted images of flattened beachfront resort buildings on its official Twitter page.
The storm has already passed through Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, flattening homes, cutting communication lines and bringing high seas. Dozens of people were killed when they were swept off a ferry off the Solomon Islands.
“We are acutely conscious that this comes on top of the impact and difficulties created by COVID-19 for those countries and so our support is all the more important,” said Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in a televised news conference.
Australia has already started helping with the cleanup in Solomon Islands, promised relief supplies like tents and water containers to Vanuatu and would also offer support in Fiji, Payne added.
“We stand ready to provide what further help we can to our Pacific family in whatever ways we can,” she said.
Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said Harold had left “a path of destruction in its wake”.
“This storm must not compromise our #coronavirus containment, lest we risk damage far more painful than any cyclone,” Bainimarama’s posted on his official Twitter account. “It’s vital every Fijian follows all of our public health directives.”