Publication Date February 24, 2016 | ClimateWire

Fiji Cyclone Disaster Is a Sign of Future Challenges

Fiji
A car drives along Kings Road near Lautoka, Fiji, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, where power poles lean over after cyclone Winston ripped through the island nation. The cyclone tore through Fiji over the weekend with winds that reached 177 miles (285 kilometers) per hour, making it the strongest storm in Fiji's recorded history. Photo: Brett Phibbs, AP
A car drives along Kings Road near Lautoka, Fiji, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, where power poles lean over after cyclone Winston ripped through the island nation. The cyclone tore through Fiji over the weekend with winds that reached 177 miles (285 kilometers) per hour, making it the strongest storm in Fiji's recorded history. Photo: Brett Phibbs, AP

Small island states and environmentalists say the devastating cyclone that lashed Fiji on Saturday illustrates why the world must get serious about helping climate-vulnerable countries cope with warming.