Rising from the Storm: The People of Nauouo Prepare for Future with New Evacuation Center

Nestled in the historic island of Ovalau, a World Heritage Site, the village of Nauouo stands as a testament of resilience and hope. Located 15 kilometres from Fiji’s old capital, Levuka, it was devastated by severe Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. 

The village is now supporting the construction of a new multipurpose evacuation center. Led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Fiji in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), this initiative promises to strengthen disaster preparedness for the community. One that has experienced several challenges for decades and has endured. TC Winston changed everything.  

Saturday, 20th February is a day seared into the memory of many in this part of the Pacific. The sky darkened, winds howled, and the ocean swelled with a terrifying force. For Karalaini Yabaki, who has lived in Nauouo for 53 years, the nightmare began with the first gusts of wind.  

“We heard the cyclone was coming, but we didn’t know how strong it would be until we were told by the Village Headman,” she recalled, her voice trembling. “Our children cried as homes crumbled before their eyes. As a mother and grandmother, we look after all our children, it was heartbreaking. We didn’t know what to do or where to go, it was nothing like I had ever experienced in my life.”  

The community hall, built in 1957, offered temporary refuge, but it too succumbed to the fury of Winston. Karalaini was trapped under a collapsed structure, her cries for help muffled by the raging storm. “I was under the rubble for three hours. My back hurt and I could not move, I prayed and thought it was the end for me, as long as everyone else was safe. But I kept calling for help until they found me. One person lost her life.” 

Mataiasi Dakuitoga, at 65, is the oldest Turaga Ni Koro (Village Headman) in Fiji. Having been notified of the approaching monster cyclone, Mataiasi summoned the villagers, using this traditional conch shell. It was time to prepare. What was to come, however, was beyond anything anyone had ever experienced.  

The weight of responsibility for his people lay heavy on his shoulders that fateful day. “It felt like a war zone when it hit,” he said, his lips quivering at the memory. He crawled through the village, ensuring every soul had found shelter. “We couldn’t walk straight; the wind forced us to the ground.” 

When roofs were ripped away and walls crumbled, the village sought refuge wherever they could, some in culverts, others clinging to hope. “I crawled with my granddaughter and daughter into a culvert, but it began to flood,” he recalled. “We had to move again. I didn’t know where my wife or the rest of my family were.” 

Years have passed, but the scars remain. The children who experienced the wrath of TC Winston still carry fear, their eyes widening at the mention of a storm. Soon, they will learn that there is a safe and secure place as construction began on the new multipurpose evacuation center. 

The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by high chiefs, including the Tui Levuka, Ratu Etonia Seru Rokotuinaceva, alongside Minister Sakiasi Ditoka, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, the Permanent Secretary Isoa Talemaibua, and other government officials, which marked a significant gesture of respect and appreciation.  

The Chiefs presence symbolized the acceptance and ownership of the project by the land and the people of Levuka. “We are lucky for the blessings,” Mataiasi said. “No amount of Winston’s will ever make us leave, because soon we will have a safe place to go. I have been waiting for this day.” 

Through the collaborative efforts of IOM Fiji, KOICA, the Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), and Save the Children, the evacuation center will not only serve as a safe haven but also as a community hub for disaster preparedness training. The venue will also play an important role in hosting Community gatherings and events. “This to us is priceless,” Mataiasi said, highlighting how critically important the centre is to the community. “We can never put a price on safety.” 

This is not the end of the battle for the people of Nauouo. The village also faces the onslaught of rising sea levels. High tides batter the coastlines, encroaching onto their ancestral lands and threatening their homes and livelihoods.  

However, the people stand resilient, determined to never again face another storm unprepared. For Karalaini and Mataiasi, this evacuation center is more than a building, it is an assurance their village will endure, no matter what storms may come.  

And many will come.