User:Jason Rees/Fiji Tornados

Background
The Republic of Fiji is an island nation located within the South Pacific Ocean, about 2000 km to the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga, to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Fiji consists of over 330 island nations and extends from Rotuma in the far north to Ono-i-Lau in the south as well as from Viwa in the west across the 180th meridian to Vatoa in the east. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm, down towards the ground and are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. According to the Fiji Meteorological Service, tornadoes have occurred in Fiji since the 1960s, but are generally thought to be a rare occurrence.

Possible Tornado's

 * December 30, 1959 - A possible tornado moved through the village of Yako on Viti Levu, where a person was killed and several others were injured.


 * April 5 - 6, 1976 - A small tornado associated with Tropical Cyclone Betty caused some damage to the village of Yako near Nadi.


 * January 4 - 5, 1978 - A death was reported in Sambeto, when an isolated squall (possibly an incipient tornado) associated with Tropical Cyclone Bob, demolished several houses in a narrow strip about 50-100 m wide.


 * January 8, 1998 - A tornado associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Susan damaged several shops, power lines, a bus station and the roof of a shopping complex.


 * March 14, 2011 - Residents of Navua claimed that a tornado had impacted them.

2020s

 * April 7 - 8, 2020 - The FMS received several reports of tornadoes occurring and causing severe damage to houses in the Central Divison, as Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold made landfall in the island nation.


 * January 12, 2023 - An Australian who was on holiday in Fiji observed a mini-tornado as he drove along Suva's Kings Road, however, there were no injuries or damages reported from the tornado.


 * March 23, 2024 - The Fiji Meteorological Service reported that a small/mini tornado had occurred in Nakasi, after receiving a report of 1 person being injured, destructive winds and some property damage.