International relief supplies have begun arriving in cyclone-ravaged Fiji, as military leader Voreqe Bainimarama spoke of "overwhelming" damage to the Pacific island nation.
Category-four Cyclone Tomas -- the second strongest on a five-point scale -- devastated areas in the north and east of Fiji but has weakened and is moving away from the south, allowing officials to assess damage.
Communications with many of the affected areas were cut as winds averaging up to 175 kilometres (109 miles) an hour and waves caused by storm surges slammed into Fiji on Monday and Tuesday.
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Fiji-based Pacific deputy representative for UNICEF Tim Sutton said about 150,000 Fijians had potentially been directly affected by the powerful cyclone, with Bainimarama describing the damage late Tuesday as "overwhelming."
Deaths unconfirmed
National Disaster Management Office director Pajiliai Dobui said there were unconfirmed reports of a "few" deaths.
"Those who have experienced other cyclones say this is the longest and the strongest they have come across -- and the most destructive," Dobui said.
A state of emergency was declared for the north and east on Tuesday, opening the way for foreign assistance to be brought into areas where homes, crops and infrastructure have been destroyed.
NZ Airforce Hercules brings relief
A New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules arrived in Fiji Wednesday morning with relief supplies with another Hercules from Australia due later in the day.
The aircraft were expected to carry out surveys of the damage and Fijian officials said a French plane was also expected to survey devastated areas.
Australia and New Zealand also pledged one million Australian dollars and one million New Zealand dollars (totalling 1.6 million US) as initial contributions to the aid effort.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the two countries would coordinate their response.
Australia boosts assistance
"Australia will consider further assistance for reconstruction once damage has been more fully assessed," he said.
Fijian officials said there was a need for tents and emergency shelters, water containers and purification tablets and emergency morgues.
Fijian naval vessels were due to leave for the disaster areas late Wednesday for the eastern Lau and Lomaiviti island groups to assess damage and deliver relief supplies.
"Right now we are working only on reports that have been given by people in these villages and affected areas," Dobui told Fijian commercial radio Wednesday.
"We have yet to verify these reports and that can only be done by surveillance today and tomorrow."
UNICEF's Sutton said his organisation was dispatching emergency supplies, including water containers and purification tablets, to affected areas.
"Our focus at the moment is getting our supplies in our warehouse in Suva onto boats and up there as quickly as possible," Sutton told AFP.
The extent of the devastation was unclear Wednesday but a lot of international help would be needed, he said.
"It's going to take three, four or five days until you get a decent picture of what happened."
