In Fiji, 17 Dead from 'Monster' Cyclone Winston; Schools Shuttered for A Week

Now that Tropical Cyclone Winston has passed, the arduous tasks of cleanup and damage assessment from the most powerful storm on record in the Southern Hemisphere has begun, authorities say.

"Many people have been left stunned and confused about what to do," Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said after the storm passed. "The damage has been widespread, homes have been destroyed, many low lying areas have been flooded," CNN reported on Monday.

There are reports of widespread power outages and thousands who left their homes for shelters.

One man posted a video from Suva, the country's capital, of electrical power lines exploding one after another as the cyclone hit.

Officials continue to ask people to stay indoors.

"There is a great deal of debris on our roads, power lines have gone down, and iron, glass and other hazardous materials pose serious threats to our community," Bainimarama said.

Getting roads cleared and secured will take time, he said.

A nationwide curfew remains in effect as emergency crews clear roads of downed trees and restore power.

Nadi International Airport reopened Monday morning after being close for two days. Operations there are back to normal with few cancellations, according to airport staff.

Schools, however, will be closed in Fiji for one week, the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management said.

Winds that reached 296 kph (184 mph) lashed the tiny island nation in the Pacific, felling trees, knocking out power and causing heavy flooding, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported.

"Winston was a monster of a cyclone," Fiji resident Nazeem Kasim told CNN. "I have not experienced anything like this before in my life, nor has my 60-year-old father."

The government declared a state of emergency that will be in effect for 30 days, according to the Fiji Times.

A nationwide curfew remains in effect as emergency crews clear roads of downed trees and restore power.