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The Government is urging New Zealanders in Fiji to register with the High Commission in Suva as the devastating Cyclone Tomas hits the islands.
Prime Minister John Key said today about 450 were registered, but there were likely to be others who had not.
"The advice to New Zealanders in
relation to Cyclone Tomas is that they should register and follow instructions issued by local authorities," he said at his post-cabinet press conference.
"Cyclone Tomas has increased to a category four storm with destructive hurricane force winds."
The cyclone has already claimed its first victim - a woman swept out to sea on Friday.
Mr Key said a tropical cyclone warning was in place for the entire Fiji island group. Nadi Airport was open, but all international flights, including some by Air New Zealand, were delayed or cancelled.
"It is anticipated the full impact of the storm will be felt later this evening or overnight," Mr Key said.
Mr Key said the other storm hitting the Pacific, Cyclone Ului, had intensified to a category five storm and there had been reports of damage and flooding in the Solomon Islands region.
"Despite its intensity, latest reports say it has slightly weakened in the last six to 12 hours," he said.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is continuing to monitor both cyclones and their impact.
"We will be assessing our response based on what develops and that assessment will be made in conjunction with our partners in the Pacific."
Mr Key said anyone travelling to the affected areas should closely watch the Government's safe travel website.
Tomas battered the Lau and Lomaiviti island groups off Fiji's northern coast today, causing flooding and pounding seas.
Tonight it was battering Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu, with more than 5000 people evacuated from their homes.
Police said they were regarding the death of a 31-year-old woman swept out at sea on Friday as the first victim of Cyclone Tomas.
The woman and her relatives were swept out at Namilamila Bay in Vanua Levu after a warning to stay away from the sea was issued.
The northern commissioner for the national disaster office, Inia Seruiratu, who is operating the disaster centre in one of the worst affected parts of Vanua Levu, said reports of damage had been coming in.
He told Radio New Zealand reports included damage to houses particularly in the remote settlements and villages in the outer islands, with trees being uprooted and low-lying areas affected by sea water.
A nationwide curfew was lifted this morning to allow people to buy emergency supplies. It will take effect again between 8pm today until 7am tomorrow.
Matt Boterhoven, a senior forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service, told AAP the small island of Cikoba, part of Vanua Levu group, was taking a severe beating with winds up to 175km/h.
"Unfortunately we can't get a lot of reports out of there at this point," Mr Boterhoven said, but he predicted "a lot of rain and flooding".
The cyclone was about 375km northeast of the capital, Suva, and was expected to intensify over the next 24 hours.
The acting director of Fiji's Disaster Management Office, Pajiliai Dobui, told AAP more than 5000 people had been evacuated from their homes in Vanua Levu and were taking shelter in disaster centres.
"Our worry is how devastating the cyclone will be," he told Fiji's local radio network, adding it may be the most destructive the nation has seen in a while.
Mr Boterhoven said Cyclone Tomas was expected to brush the eastern part of Vanua Levu and cause "a lot of flooding even in central parts of that island".
It will then head south through the Lau group of island and "cause a bit of havoc down there".
- NZPA, AAP
