Alrite, we’ve survived yet another Cyclone, “Gene“, which started hitting Suva around 3pm afternoon on 28th with strong wind and heavy rain. There were some warnings aired on radio and most of the offices issued the early break. Our boss also notified us that we can go home early. My dad called 3 times telling us to go home early but I didn’t care about it cos’ I couldn’t feel/hear the intensity of the wind outside the office. Our boss dropped us home around 4:30. There were some uprooted trees blocking the drive ways so we have to park the car at a friend house and walk back home. By the time we get home it was pouring cats and cows in the fierce wind. The phone line and electricity were already out and no water in the pipes after 9pm that night.

Tropical Cyclone Gene – Track and Threat Map

Fiji has been hit by numerous hurricanes and cyclones every year but this is the first time I’ve experienced the small glimpse of so call “Cyclone”. Most of the past natural disasters never affect much on our areas. Sometimes we didn’t even realize there was some cyclone passing through. The worst damage it could do to us is, some broken tree branches, wires and power/water outage. This is the first time I’ve seen many trees being up-rooted in our area. Seriously, the big trees just fell over from the very end of the roots. I tried to take some photos of fallen trees in front of our house while my dad was away. Took some videos with mobile camera as you can see below. It was very badly done and the quality was terrible. Lucky enough, PWD workers came the next day around 11am to clear all those trees on the road and we were able to use the drive ways.

Ok this is my first time taking video and it’s with a mobile camera, the quality is terrible, it’s shaky and dizzy to watch. Our dog running around and barking at fallen branches.

Fallen trees around our area. The wind was so strong, can even blown me away. Dad yelling at me to go back to the house.

After two and a half days of no water, no electricity, no phone line (not even mobile service on the first day), and no toileting/showering, we are back at work. Power came back last night and early this morning low pressured water started running again. The landlines are still down in our area but mobile signals back on properly. I just realized now that life without electricity and computers is utterly boring and you don’t know how to make use of those ample times. Life without water, is simply torturing ones physical and mental state. I can live without phone line, well not too long cos’ we need phone line to connect to the internet.

On the way to work this morning, we saw piles after piles of broken branches and trees along the Vua road and also in Domain areas. PWD has already clear some to keep the drive way clean but there are still a lot left for them to clean later; but I’m glad they clear the roads fast enough to keep the traffic running. Here are the photos I took around our place the day after the Cyclone. Very messy huh?

Damages around our place

Around the net, Fiji bloggers blogged about their days with Cyclone Gene.

• Sit at home and watch shit fly. Again. – Failed Paradise
• There was a hurricane in Fiji and yes I was wrong! – Sarnil
• The clean-up starts – Babasiga
• Cyclone Gene – Navinesh
• Cyclone Gene – Rizwan Dean
• Cyclone Gene video update – Oceanic
• and you can always check the latest updates on Fijitimes online.

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