Cyclone Winston latest news: Fiji Death toll rises to 42

Fiji, a country in the South Pacific known for its world class beaches and more than 300 islands, was hit by super cyclone Winston on Saturday, making its landfall on Viti Levu, one of the country's main islands.

According to CNN, the death toll has now reached 42. Authorities say it might rise up considering the country's population of 900,000 in around 100 inhabited islands, some still unreachable.

Winston is said to be the strongest cyclone that hit the Southern Hemisphere. It was reported to reach the speed of 325 kph (202 mph) by Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). Fijians are left without jobs, food and shelter — scavenging whatever is left of their homes.

Schools were temporarily closed to give shelter to more than 8,000 evacuees. Aerial footage from the New Zealand Defence Force reported by Radio New Zealand showed the extent of the damage: houses and buildings are almost non-existent with only the debris left, trees pulled from their roots, houses being carried out by the wind and crops destroyed.

Most of the remote islands like Koro were the most affected, given the poor infrastructure. With the archipelagic structure of the country, sending food and other necessities proves to be challenging.

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said in a statement reported by Fiji Broadcasting Corporation: "Particular emphasis will be placed on reconnecting with our Eastern Division to our national grid so we can urgently assess and address the damage in our maritime regions. We are also working hard to keep the Fijian people as updated as possible on the restoration process. In some cases the electricity has been intentionally cut off in order to prevent severe damage. When we are able we will provide timelines for the return of water and power so that people can plan in the short term of how best to care for themselves."

The Fijian government has declared a natural disaster and is establishing a disaster relief funds. International and local donations are welcomed through the bank accounts listed on their website.