SUVA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fiji on Monday marked the anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Winston that took 44 lives in the Pacific island country a year ago, sending condolences to families of the victims and calling on the international community to better tackle climate change which brings extreme weather patterns.
A national service of remembrance was held in the capital of Suva, where President Jioji Konrote delivered his speech to remember those who died and give thanks that Winston, which slammed into Fiji with peak intensity on Feb. 20, 2016, spared much of the rest of Fiji.
A roll call of the 44 victims was conducted, followed by a minute of silence.
"For the families of those who died, I have a simple message for each of you on behalf of the entire nation, a message of sympathy and love. As one, we embrace you. As one, we extend to you our hand of comfort. And as well as our deepest condolences, we also salute you for your own courage, fortitude and resilience," Konrote said.
Fiji intends to do everything in its power to persuade the global community to tackle the root cause of extreme weather events such as Winston, Konrote underscored.
"We must get the community of nations to continue reducing the carbon emissions that are causing global warming. This is a fight that we must win. Our entire way of life is at stake. And that is why Fiji is taking a leadership role in the world to persuade the industrial nations to act decisively before it is too late," said the Fijian president.
After the killer cyclone ravaged Fiji leaving a path of destruction, China, along with other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, provided humanitarian aid funds and supplies to the island nation, reaching out a badly needed helping hand.
