URGENT: Fiji cyclone death toll climbs to 17: Care Australia

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This handout photo taken by Naziah Ali of MaiLife Magazine on February 21, 2016 shows a family digging through the remains of their home in the town of Ba, after it was destroyed by severe tropical cyclone Winston, the only category five storm system to ever hit Fiji. Fiji began a massive clean-up on February 21 after the most powerful cyclone in its history battered the Pacific island nation, killing at least one person and leaving a trail of destruction. AFP PHOTO / NAZIAH ALI / MAILIFE MAGAZINE ----EDITORS NOTE ----RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / NAZIAH ALI / MAILIFE MAGAZINE " NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES / AFP / MAILIFE MAGAZINE / NAZIAH ALI
This handout photo taken by Naziah Ali of MaiLife Magazine on February 21, 2016 shows a family digging through the remains of their home in the town of Ba, after it was destroyed by severe tropical cyclone Winston, the only category five storm system to ever hit Fiji. Fiji began a massive clean-up on February 21 after the most powerful cyclone in its history battered the Pacific island nation, killing at least one person and leaving a trail of destruction. AFP PHOTO / NAZIAH ALI / MAILIFE MAGAZINE

SUVa, Fiji (AFP) — The death toll from the super-cyclone that hit Fiji over the weekend has risen from six to 17, Care Australia said Monday, citing Fijian government officials.

“Care Australia can confirm that figure of 17 dead,” a Care spokesman told AFP after a briefing with disaster management officials in Suva.

Severe tropical cyclone Winston, the first category five storm in Fiji, hit the Pacific nation overnight Saturday, packing wind gusts of 325 kilometres (202 miles) per hour, leaving a trail of destruction.

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