Updated: 9:30am – Sustained windspeeds near the centre of Tropical Cyclone Gita are expected to reach 215km/h, gusting to 295km/h by midday as it moves towards southern Fiji.
Gita hit the islands of Tongatapu and ‘Eua, as a category-four storm, with winds of up to 230km/h.
It’s expected to strengthen to a category five during today as it moves towards Fiji. The last time a category 5 cyclone hit the Pacific was in February 2016 when Cyclone Winston killed 44 people in Fiji.
A hurricane warning remains in force for Fiji’s southern Lau group. Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa are expected to be hit with average wind speeds up to 195km/h gusting up to 275km/h, Fiji Meteorological Service said.
-
- Find out the latest on our live blog,
- Read what you need to know for the essential information
- Read our wrap-up for the full picture
The islands are set to face periods of rain and squally thunderstorms, and damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of coastal areas.
The service warned destructive winds were likely to begin several hours before the cyclone passes overhead or nearby.
At 6am NZ time, (5am in Fiji) the cyclone was about 200km ESE of Ono-i-Lau, and had average wind speeds near its centre of 195km/h, gusting to 275km/h.
The service said Gita was heading west-nor-west towards the Lau group and was expected to be about 50km south of Ono-i-lau at 2pm.
The director of Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office, Anare Leweniqila, said given Fiji’s proximity to Tonga, people in Lau were being told to prepare for the worst.
“Like putting their boats on land, tying up their houses, taking down the weaker shelters, sheds that they normally have around the house.
“And also to look at their designated evacuation centres – that it is ready – and if there is a need to evacuate, that place is where they will all be evacuated to.”
-RNZ
Featured image: Satellite images of Tropical Cyclone Gita. Photo: MetService
