Villagers of Dawara in Cakaudrove watched helplessly as four houses sailed down the river after floodwaters uprooted them from their foundations.
Village headman Savenaca Cabecake said when super storm Yasa swept through the village at the foot of the Mount Kasi gold mine, 28 of the 52 houses sustained damage and four were swept downstream.
He said it was heartbreaking to see logs washing into houses, smashing down walls and shattering windows.
“We have suffered so many floods this year and lost six houses with two being affected earlier this year and four in this cyclone,” Mr Cabecake said.
“The whole village was underwater during the cyclone so the only things we saved were our clothes and bedding we took to the evacuation centre.
“Villagers are starting to repair their houses but getting the money to do it is another issue because we have lost our grog farms which is our major source of income.”
Mr Cabecake said assistance was beginning to arrive from family members on Viti Levu and church groups.
