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Refer to story below. Source: Associated Press
SUVA (AFP) – A powerful cyclone left a trail of damage through Fiji as winds averaging 175 kilometres an hour smashed into the Pacific island group Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people.
The main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu had been spared the worst of Cyclone Tomas’s devastation since it slammed into the country Monday but there were reports of extensive damage from some of the outlying islands, officials said.
There were no new reports of casualties after a woman drowned in rough seas at the weekend as the cyclone approached.
More than 10,000 people had fled to evacuation centres by Tuesday — mostly in the north of the country — as the storm damaged buildings and crops and brought down communications and power, while many low-lying areas were flooded.
By Tuesday morning, Tomas was over the Northern Lau group, to the east of the main islands, Fiji Meteorological Services director Rajendra Prasad said.
He said the average wind speed had increased slightly overnight to 175 kilometres (109 miles) an hour overnight but had peaked in intensity.
“The cyclone is expected to maintain its peak intensity for 12 hours or so before commencing a gradual weakening trend,” Prasad said.
Fiji Tropical Cyclone Centre senior forecaster Matt Boterhoven said there had been further reports of damage Tuesday.
“We had a report this morning from Lakeba, one of the larger islands in the Lau group, that two villages were flooded and some people had to be moved to higher ground,” he told Radio New Zealand.
A sea wall also collapsed on another island in the group, he said.
“A lot of sea flooding is occurring and it’s causing a significant impact in the northern and eastern parts of the Fiji group this morning,” he said.
The impact of Cyclone Tomas is expected to lessen from Tuesday evening as it moves south of Fiji.
Schools and government offices remained closed Tuesday and a curfew was in place overnight through most of the country.
