Crawford activates Catastrophe Plan as Cyclone Winston hits Fiji

The tropical cyclone named Cyclone Winston has left around 80 percent of the people in Fiji without regular power, according to Crawford & Company, the independent provider of claims management solutions to insurance companies.

"About 80 percent of the nation’s 900,000 people were without regular power, although a third of those were able to use generators,” said the firm. “Telephone landlines and mobile networks are affected.”

Initial reports are that the most damage is around Nadi and surrounding islands.  The situation will become much clearer over the next 24 hours as communication is restored and clear up begins, said Crawford.

The firm has activated its Catastrophe Plan and already has a team of adjusters from Australia and New Zealand in Fiji to assist people and businesses affected by Cyclone Winston.

“We have a team of commercial adjusters and business interruption specialists experienced at handling CAT claims,” it said.

Andrew Bart, chief executive officer, Asia pacific, Crawford, added: “We are in dialogue with underwriters from the local market and international market."