The Northern Division has recorded substantial damage to the agriculture sector, which has resulted in the increase in the estimated cost of damage of all sectors standing at close to $35million.

From yesterday’s estimation of $12 million in various sectors, DISMAC's latest situation report shows a significant increase in estimated costs which now stands at $34.9 million.

According to DISMAC the Northern Division recorded damage of more than $22 million in the Agriculture sector.

It is estimated that a total of around $20million worth of crop damage was sustained by Cyclone Tomas for Taveuni alone.

The Education sector has recorded the cost of damage to its infrastructure in the Northern division at more than $1 million.

Telecom suffered $665 thousand worth of damage to its transmitter sites while roads in the Northern and the Eastern division incurred damage of $8.6 million.

FEA has estimated a total damage cost of over $311,000 for the Northern Division alone.

DISMAC said more updates are still being received as detail assessments continue.

Meanwhile the DISMAC office in the Northern Region based at the Commissioner Northern's office in Labasa have not called off its operations yet as government officials are still doing assessment on the various areas that have sustained damage.
 
However, DISMAC operations in the Bua Province have been called off as damage in the area are minimal compared to the other two provinces of Macuata, and Cakaudrove.

Farmers who rely mostly on their food crops have been badly affected by the cyclone as crops ready for harvesting in a few months were all damaged.
 
The DISMAC operation center in Labasa would continue operations until the situation in the two provinces returns to normal.