DHAKA: The fatalities were confirmed on Wednesday by Fiji's National Disaster Management Minister Inia Seruiratu, the government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corp reported.

The toll has been steadily rising since Monday, two days after category five Tropical Cyclone Winston slammed into the western side of the Fiji islands group, reports the news.com.au.

Authorities are still trying to make contact with remote islands and there are concerns more than 8000 people displaced by the disaster could be struck down with diseases carried by contaminated water.

Aid from Australia began arriving in Fiji this week after the cyclone struck late on Saturday, bringing lashing rains and winds of up to 330km/h.

Aid groups and government authorities are racing to deal with a critical need for food, clean water, health supplies and emergency accommodation after power lines, roads, jetties and homes were destroyed and damaged across huge areas of Fiji's main islands.

A 30-day state of emergency was declared on the weekend and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has ordered emergency officials to respond to the crisis as quickly as possible.

An Australian Defence Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying urgent humanitarian supplies arrived in Fiji on Tuesday.

Four helicopters are also being sent to help carry out disaster assessments.

A P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft is on standby.

The Australian government has said it could provide more assistance if needed.

Fiji has a population of about 900,000 people.

It's believed more than 60,000 were living in areas impacted by the eye of the storm.

Another 400,000 people were in areas affected by strong winds and rain.

Originally published as Fiji cyclone death toll rises to 36

BDST: 1025  HRS, FEB 24, 2016
RS