Force 5 cyclone Yasa makes landfall in Fiji

Power cut, roofs ripped off houses as Cyclone Yasa rips through Fiji islands

Newshub,

18 December, 2020

Cyclone Yasa devastated Fiji overnight with wind gusts tearing roofs off buildings and power cuts in some villages.

Thousands of people across the islands were forced into evacuation centres as the country entered a nationwide curfew between Thursday 4pm to Friday 6am (local time).

"It's a nightmare," Banuve Lasaqa Lusi, a resident of Labasa, told RNZ. "The thunderous sound of the wind and what is flying around is what's frightening."

Photos from overnight show roads and homes flooded due to heavy rainfall and Lusi said power had been cut from the town.

She told RNZ despite some communications issues, she had made some contact with people in the Bua region who were also struggling.

"People have had their houses flattened, have escaped with the clothes on their back and are sheltering under beds, under houses as they await help," she said.

"Help that most probably will come when the winds die down."

WeatherWatch says the category 5 Cyclone Yasa has passed over Fiji's main two islands and, as of Friday morning, lies southeast of Vanua Levu.

"The storm has moved through at quite a good speed overnight and is now tracking away from Fiji’s main islands at 26km/h. 

"The storm will be seriously impacting many islands to the south-east and will continue to do so with destructive and life-threatening conditions for much of today. Meanwhile, on Vanua Levu and Viti Levu we expect to see an improvement and easing of conditions across today."

Fiji Metservice forecaster Sakeasi Waibute told Newshub on Friday morning that they have also seen signs of the cyclone weakening.

"It's still a category five but hopefully by early this morning, it should be a category 4," he said.

"But the weakening will be gradual as it proceeds down to the south. We are seeing very destructive storm winds and heavy rain."

He said the worst of the cyclone is expected to be over by early Saturday morning (local time).

WeatherWatch said there is now a risk the cyclone could be exposed to Tonga, although a direct hit isn't forecast.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/433118/fiji-s-vanua-levu-pummelled-by-tc-yasa-overnight

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.