Residents of Fiji were beginning to clean up and assess the damage Sunday after a ferocious cyclone tore through the Pacific island chain overnight, AP reported. There were no immediate reports of fatalities, although aid workers said it would take at least a day to establish communications with some of the smaller islands that were directly in Cyclone Winston's path. There were widespread reports of damage, with many homes and crops destroyed. Authorities were urging people to remain indoors as they cleared fallen trees and power lines. They said all schools would be closed for a week to allow time for the cleanup. On Saturday, the government imposed a nationwide curfew and declared a 30-day state of natural disaster, giving extra powers to police to arrest people without a warrant in the interest of public safety. Wind speeds from Cyclone Winston were estimated at up to 285 kilometers (177 miles) per hour. The cyclone moved westward overnight along the northern coast of the main island, Viti Levu, before continuing out to sea.
