Tonga

The storm, which was briefly upgraded to category five yesterday before being lowered to category four again, is to the southeast of Vanuatu and is set to lose power as it passes to the south of New Caledonia.

Neither Vanuatu nor New Caledonia are expected to be hit hard by the storm, and it is expected to fall to category three before passing over Norfolk Island.

The director of health said the cyclone could have contributed to his death.

Tongan MP Lord Fusitu'a, who lives near the centre of Tongatapu, said another woman also died.

He told Checkpoint last night about an elderly woman whose house had "completely blown away from her while she was in it".

"She couldn't make it to the neighbour's in time and she perished, which is a terrible, terrible tragedy.

The category four storm made landfall there on Monday night, ripping roofs off houses, destroying crops, and destroying a church as well as Parliament House.

The managing director of a radio station in Tonga said a lack of power was affecting water supplies for people around the islands that were hit by Cyclone Gita.

BroadCom's Maka Tohi said a day after the then category four storm swept through Tongatapu and 'Eua most people were without power and fuel was in short supply.

The same Defence Force plane that touched down on Tuesday with 12 tonnes of aid supplies, including shelter, hygiene kits, containers and tarpaulins, will take the aerial photos.

Joint Forces Acting Commander Air Commodore Kevin McEvoy spoke to The AM Show. Credits: Image - Twitter; Video - The AM Show.

An Air Force Orion will take to the air over Tonga on Wednesday to get a better idea of the carnage left behind in Cyclone Gita's path.

The category four storm made landfall there on Monday night, ripping roofs off houses and destroying a church as well as Parliament House.

Police confirmed yesterday a 72-year-old man from Fua'amotu was rushed to the hospital last night, but died of a heart attack before arriving. The director of health said the cyclone could have contributed to his death.

Tongan MP Lord Fusitu'a, who lives near the centre of Tongatapu, said another woman also died.

Families battened down last night as the category four cyclone descended around midnight, packing winds of up to 200 kilometres an hour.

Nuku'alofa resident and former Tongan MP Sitiveni Halapua, who lives two kilometres from the wharf, says it's the worst cyclone he's ever experienced.

"The wind changed directions from the south to the western side and it was so strong," he says. "We couldn't see anything. All we could hear was the roaring and trees breaking and rooftops flying and we could hear the corrugated iron."

Fiji's MetService said the category four storm was very close to being upgraded to the highest category, five.

It had already washed out building and equipment of Tonga's met office, and Fiji weather forecasters took over issuing warnings for the region from shortly before midnight.

The storm was expected to be upgraded to a category five in the early hours of the morning.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre earlier said it was hitting maximum sustained winds estimated at 233km/h.

The move comes after the government declared a state of emergency.

Under the curfew no one would be able to enter the CBD unless they are part of the Gita Emergency Response Team.

"The curfew furthers protect people and property and police have asked for public understanding and common sense," Mr Caldwell said.

Police have also issued key safety messages to the public:

· Keep yourself and your family safe

· Keep off the road

· Stay at home if it's safe

· Get to an Evacuation Centre as soon as possible with food and water

The category 4 cyclone is expected to hit Tongatapu and Eua around 7pm today.

The government has declared a State of Emergency until 12 March 2018.

All the schools were closed today and some public and private agencies suspended their services as part of their preparations for the cyclone.

Evacuation centres in villages on Tongatapu are now open and the public is being urged to move persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to the centres while there is still daylight.

In a statement, Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika said due to destructive force winds and sea rises associated with the category four storm, it was necessary for emergency powers to be exercised in order to prevent or minimise loss of life or injury and damage to property and the environment.

Gita has brought destructive force winds and sea rises and is expected to be closest to Tongatapu by midnight tonight.

It is also expected to intensify into a category 5 cyclone with winds of over 200km an hours.