Cyclone Sarai lashes Fiji

Flights affected as Sarai 

lashes Fiji overnight

Hundreds of people are taking shelter in evacuation centres in Fiji as cyclone Sarai hammers the country.

RNZ,

28 December, 2019

The category two event is bringing wind speeds of around 100km/h, gusting up to 140km/h.

The storm is expected to pass close to the Kadavu island group today, and a flood warning has been issued for major rivers and streams in the western and central division.

Metservice Meteorologist Micky Malivuk said New Zealand was unlikely to experience any effect.

Meanwhile, more holiday makers will have their travel plans disrupted today.

Travel agency Flight Centre said hundreds of its customers had been affected by flight cancellations as Fiji braced itself for the storm.

A number of flights between Nadi and New Zealand were cancelled yesterday and more flights have been cancelled again today.

All flights in and out of Nadi have been cancelled, including from Auckland, until at least midnight tonight.

Flight Centre New Zealand general manager of product Victoria Courtney said the agency was working with airlines to re-accommodate passengers within the next week where possible.

Courtney said passengers should check with airlines or travel agents for the latest updates.

The Fiji National Disaster Management Office this morning said 15 evacuation centres were open and 361 people had sought shelter last night.

The body also assisted people living in low-lying areas as strong storm surges started to enter some villages along the coastal areas in the western division.

The cyclone's forecast track shows it will pass adjacent to the main island Viti Levu and then across Fiji's southern islands, before heading towards Tonga's Ha'apai Group.

Tonga's Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre has been activated as Tropical Cyclone Sarai is expected to cross into Tonga waters today.

The Cyclone Warning Centre will continue to provide Tropical Cyclone advisories, alerts and warnings for Tonga on the developments of the cyclone every six hours. Advisories will be updated more often prior to its track closing into Tongan waters.