TC Yasa

Relief supplies are getting out to affected areas, but there is growing concern about the risk of disease.

4,035 people are in 84 evacuation centres, most of them in the northern island of Vanua Levu, which bore the brunt of the category five storm.

Health officials are now concerned about the possible spread of diseases like leptospirosis and dengue fever - particularly with more heavy rain forecast this weekend.

The government said work crews and relief supplies have made it to all the affected areas, but items like water tanks and shelter are needed.

Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre was deactivated at 1pm (local time) today.

Associated warnings currently in-force for Tonga

A gale warning remains in-force for Tele-Ki-Tonga, Tele-Ki-Tokelau, Tonga and ‘Eua land areas and coastal waters.

Strong wind warning in-force for Vava’u and Ha’apai land areas and coastal waters.

A heavy damaging swell warning remains in-force for all of Tonga coastal waters.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in-force for Niuas land areas.

While the cyclone had weakened to a category 1 during Saturday afternoon, the disaster management office confirmed the death toll had risen to four. And it had caused widespread damage since hitting Fiji on Friday, particularly in the northern areas and the island of Vanua Levu.

Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali said Kia Island, north of Vanua Levu had "basically been completely devastated".

"Judging by the pictures it looks like it's a warzone. We don't know yet if there are injuries," she said.

Tonga has now issued a cyclone warning as forecasts show it tracking close to the islands over the weekend.

Many houses in Fiji's Vanua Levu have been destroyed, some families sheltered under beds and tables in their houses and others in cane plantations, as Cyclone Yasa wreaked havoc in many parts of the Northern Division, Fiji Village reports.

Buildings and crops were destroyed on Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island, and there's been widespread flooding and landslides.

Cyclone Yasa is due to make landfall on Fiji's two main islands this evening, with winds gusting as high as 350 kilometres per hour.

A nationwide curfew is now in effect and will last through the night.

The National Disaster Management Office said at least 600,000 people lie in the path of the storm, whose strength could rival the devastation wrought by Cyclone Winston in 2016.

The NDMO director, Vasiti Soko, said the time for people to evacuate was fast running out.

Digicel Regional CEO – Pacific, Ms. Shally Jannif said; “Two links out of three between our Suva Data Center and the Fintel landing station maybe affected by Category 5 Cyclone Yasa. This may disrupte all data services in Tonga as this is where our core systems for these services are located.”

Data network in Tonga for 2G / 3G and LTE services maybe impacted. 

Local and International calls & SMS will not be affected. ICT services for Dedicated Internet through WIMAX, P2P or P2MP will also not be affected.

Evacuation centres have opened with the category five storm expected to make landfall tonight.

At least 600,000 people lie in the path the cyclone which packs winds gusting up to 345km/h.

The Director of the National Disaster Office, Vasiti Soko, said the people should either move into evacuation centres or secure their homes and clear loose items in their surroundings.

Soko warns the winds would be destructive

The cyclone on Wednesday was upgraded to a category five, the highest possible, with winds at its centre gusting as high as 315km/h.

It is still intensifying, forecasters said, and by the time it reached Fiji's main islands late on Thursday or early on Friday, it would likely be much stronger.

Its projected path would take it right over the two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and disaster authorities were planning for as many as 600,000 people - 66 percent of the population - to be affected.

The public is being warned to prepare to be hit by a devastatingly severe cyclone with impacts to be felt late Thursday and into Friday.

Cyclone Yasa is a category five storm, packing winds of up to 315 km/h.

Its forecast track has it moving across the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu as it snakes southeast.

Fiji Met Service forecaster Steven Meke said the public needed to prepare for the worst.

"The impacts will be devastating for Fiji.