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Severe cyclone bears down on Fiji Severe cyclone skirts Fiji island
(about 8 hours later)
Forecasters are warning of "very destructive winds" and "phenomenal seas" as a severe cyclone bears down on Fiji's second-largest island. Cyclone Daman has swept past Fiji's second-largest island, Vanua Levu, veering away from populated areas where forecasters had warned of major damage.
Cyclone Daman, which was upgraded to a Category Four storm on Friday, was packing winds of up to 240km/h (150mph) as it reached Vanua Levu's coast. But the category four storm lashed the small northerly island of Cikobia with winds of up to 250km/h (155mph).
The storm was expected to pass through the Lau, Lomaiviti and Vanua Levu island groups, home to 90,000 people. Officials said brief radio contact with the stricken island indicated the storm had caused "injuries and maybe deaths".
With major floods and damage predicted, residents were urged to go to shelters. "We've got to be thankful that it missed the two larger islands of Fiji," said forecaster Alipate Waqaicelua.
"Move to evacuation centres or move to places where you are secure," Akhil Chand, controller of the Disaster Management Office urged residents of low-lying areas, "because come night time, we don't know what is going to happen." Fiji's Disaster Management Office said it had lost contact with Cikobia, home to as many as 100 people, after the storm struck it at about 0300 Fijian time Saturday (1500 Friday GMT).
"It seems islanders fled when the storm blew their homes away, so it will take some time to gauge a more accurate picture of the extent of the damage," Joji Satakala, an official at the office told a local broadcaster.
CYCLONE DAMAN Upgraded to Category Four stormGusts up to 240 km/h (150mph)Average winds of 160 km/h (99.3mph)
Mr Waqaicelua said the storm was now heading out towards open water between Fiji and Tonga.
"While the cyclone is weakening slowly, it's still packing a very strong punch," he said.
Warnings of flash-floods in low-lying areas and high-tide flooding remained in place early on Saturday morning local time.
Earlier, the Disaster Management Office had warned people living in low-lying areas in the Lau, Lomaiviti and Vanua Levu island groups to move to shelters or higher ground as the storm surged in from the north-west.
Serious damage from flash floods, wind gusts and up to 25cm (10 inches) of rain had been expected.
Cyclone Daman had been upgraded to a category four storm on Friday, and forecasters had feared it would sweep away the flimsy houses that many of Fiji's islanders live in.
Tourists warnedTourists warned
Forecasters said the storm was expected to lash the islands with some 25cm (10 inches) of rain, which, together with hurricane-force winds, could sweep away the flimsy houses that many islanders live in.
CYCLONE DAMAN: PREDICTED PATH Upgraded to Category Four stormGusts up to 240 km/h (150mph)Average winds of 160 km/h (99.3mph) Landslides are already reported to have closed some highways, while some trees have been blown down.
Early Saturday, the storm was 110km (68 miles) from Viti Levu's largest town, Labasa, home to 25,000 people, and was moving south-east at about 20km/h (12.4 mph), the Fiji Meteorological Service said.
The storm was expected to cross the island, although some reports suggested its centre may have begun veering away from the land-mass.
"Expect winds of very destructive hurricane force within 48km (30 miles) of the cyclone centre with phenomenal seas," the FMS warned.
Although the majority of Fiji's tourist resorts are located on and around the country's largest island, Viti Levu, south of the storm's path, some tourists were reported to have been evacuated from the Yasawa Islands chain.Although the majority of Fiji's tourist resorts are located on and around the country's largest island, Viti Levu, south of the storm's path, some tourists were reported to have been evacuated from the Yasawa Islands chain.
The Australian government warned citizens visiting Fiji to identify cyclone shelters and contact families at home. The Australian government warned citizens visiting Fiji to find out where cyclone shelters were and contact families at home.
"In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe cyclone may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should review and follow hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans," it said in a travel advisory."In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe cyclone may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should review and follow hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans," it said in a travel advisory.