Fiji begins cleanup after Cyclone Evan rips through; Samoa death toll rises to 14

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji residents are beginning to clean up after a powerful cyclone blew through the Pacific island nation.

Cyclone Evan on Monday ripped roofs from homes and churches, flooded roads and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Strong seas near the capital, Suva, pulled two container ships onto a reef. Authorities say they hope to refloat them.

Overall, Fiji appears to have come through the storm relatively intact, with some places yet to be assessed. There are no reports of deaths, the international airport at Nadi reopened Tuesday and most tourist resorts sustained only minor damage. Power and communications remain down in parts of the country.

The storm earlier wreaked greater havoc on Samoa. Authorities on Tuesday abandoned a search for 10 missing fishermen, bringing the death toll there to 14.