INTERIM Defence Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, after visiting five evacuation centres in the North on Thursday, says Labasa has fared well compared to the Western Division.
Ratu Epeli said his impression was that people were still in good spirits despite the disaster.
"Evacuation centres have been well organised and people understand the hardships but are surviving and in a good mood," Ratu Epeli said.
"The combination of police and the army manning these centres has been an excellent idea because everything is in order."
Centres visited were Holy Family Secondary School, Naduna Primary School, Labasa Arya Secondary School, the Labasa Civic Centre and Guru Nanak Secondary School.
He also criticised the use of the word curfew by the media.
"There is no curfew because that would imply a state of lockdown which is not the case," he said.
"There is only a state of heightened police presence to prevent looting in towns," Ratu Epeli said.
