Cyclone cuts off Fiji as families hit the phones

Hamilton-based Fijians trying to contact relatives in the areas hard hit by Cyclone Tomas are unable to get through because phone and power lines have been knocked down.

With winds reaching 250kmh, the category-four storm is the most powerful to hit the area in seven years and has already battered Fiji's outer islands, flattening houses and killing at least one woman in a sea surge.

Waikato Hospital nurse Estella Leewah said they tried all day yesterday to contact relatives in Nadave in Labasa, the major urban centre on Vanua Levu, but failed.

Vanua Levu, the second biggest island in the Fiji Group, bore the full brunt of slow-moving Tomas as it battered the Northern Division yesterday and last night.

Mrs Leewah said they finally made contact on a cellphone after midnight.

The relatives told them that powerful winds had driven rain into their home even though they had window shutters up.

They spent all night mopping up, but they were safe, Mrs Leewah said.

Many residents had been evacuated to emergency centres.

Radio Fiji Gold reporter Louise Kaunisela said from Suva this morning that Tomas had passed Vanua Levu and was moving across the Lomaiviti and Lau group of islands.

It had left a trail of destruction after sea surges pounded coastal villages.

Fiji's military Government this morning extended an overnight curfew through to 5pm today.

Military spokesman Neumi Leweni said the curfew covered most of the country except the tourist area in the west which was not feeling the impact of the cyclone. The full extent of the damage was not yet known.

All domestic flights have been cancelled. International flights which were suspended will be reassessed today.

Businesses on Viti Levu, the biggest island, which is likely to be spared, will decide this morning whether to re-open.

Ms Kaunisela said reports coming in spoke of villagers abandoning their homes as the wind blew roofs off and rain caused flooding. Crops have also been destroyed.

More than 10,000 people are sheltering in 178 evacuation centres around the country.

The only death so far was that of Tamarisi Tabua, a mother who died after being swept away while trying to rescue family members in Namilamila Bay, Cakaudrove, on Vanua Levu.

- © Fairfax NZ News