ON the night of February 20, 2016, Taniela Voreqe made a final, selfless decision to protect his family – a decision that would cost him his life but leave behind a legacy of faith and resilience.
A decade later, the pain of loss remains – but so does a deep faith, forged in tragedy, that continues to guide the Voreqe family forward.
Mr Voreqe, a seasonal worker with the Fiji Sugar Corporation, was trying to secure the door of his home in Drasa, Lautoka, as Cyclone Winston intensified.
In the chaos of flying debris and raging winds, an object was hurled through the doorway, striking him and knocking him unconscious.
He would not survive the night.
Ten years on, his widow, Laite Voreqe, says the pain of that night has never faded, but neither has the faith that carried her family through their darkest moment.
“With telecommunications down and movement restricted, that day was really difficult for us,” she said.
The memories remain vivid – the roar of the wind, the relentless rain, and the terrifying uncertainty that followed.
“As I reflect on that tragic incident, I still remember the sound of the heavy rain, the strong winds and our roof shaking.
“We were worried because my husband was lying dead and we did not know what to do next.”
Ms Voreqe said her eldest son, Luke Nacei, stepped up when his family needed him most.
“He gathered his siblings and took them to another house because of the strong winds and heavy rain that day.”
Mr Voreqe was later confirmed as the 16th fatality of Cyclone Winston.
“It was a frightening experience, but we thank God for giving us the strength to overcome this tragic loss.
In the years since Mr Voreqe’s death, Ms Voreqe says their faith did more than help them survive – it helped shape their children’s future.
Losing their father at such a young age was devastating, she said, but it also strengthened their resolve.
