Fiji hunkers down as formidable cyclone nears main islands

Many flights have been cancelled.

It is the strongest storm on record to make a direct hit on the main islands, which are home to a majority of Fiji’s 900,000 people and are smaller than CT. We must stick together as a people and look after each other. Once Winston makes a southward turn, weakening is expected.

Winston cruised through the South Pacific moving west to east. It clipped Tonga – an island nation about 500 miles southeast of Fiji – as a Category 2 storm and kept heading east. However, it made a sudden about face earlier this week and started making a beeline straight back toward Fiji, intensifying as it moved over warmer than normal waters.

“As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind”, he wrote.

“Let us all pray for our nation, ourselves and each other and ask God’s blessing on our beloved Fiji”. “Be alert and be prepared”, Mr Bainimarama said.

The National Disaster Management Office has opened all its 758 evacuation centres around the country.

“If you have any doubts about the ability of your own home to withstand the onslaught, I urge you to seek shelter where you are most likely to be safe, and our officials can assist you”.

Cyclone Winston earlier passed through Tonga’s northern Vava’u island as a category four storm, but caused less damage than had been expected, Australia’s ABC says.

The Fiji Meteorological Service estimates that Winston’s wind gusts are 295 kilometers per hour, or around 180 mph.

Tropical cyclone Winston is now passing over Taveuni and Savusavu.

With islands already being evacuated, flights cancelled and warnings of winds of up to 315km/h, Mr Bainimarama is calling for people to pray for Fiji and pleading with his countrymen to be prepared.

‘We have seen people shopping for the last few days, and from today, the shops are now closed and we hope people have sufficient stock to survive, ‘ he said. Monday’s schedule was under review. This applies to passengers holding a valid ticket issued before February 19 for travel between February 19 and February 25.

Cyclone Winston hits Fiji’s largest island of Vanua Levu.

Winston is the biggest storm in the world right now As far as storms go, Cyclone Winston is undoubtedly a monster of potentially destructive power.

All public transportation was been put on hold and ceased by midday.

The forecast also warns of flooding from heavy rains and storm surges.

On Viti Levu, Nausori Town Council acting chief executive Azam Khan said the Nausori Market would close at 12 noon.