Landslides, flooding, strong gusts and large swells are adding to the “destructive” Cyclone Yasa, which hit Fiji two hours earlier than predicted. The category 5 cyclone made landfall in Bua, Vanua Levu, at 6pm Thursday (7pm NZ time), two hours earlier than originally predicted, according to Metservice Fiji. A state of natural disaster has been declared and a strict curfew imposed until Friday morning. The eye of the storm is passing 100 kilometres east of Yasaway-i-rara and 90km southwest of Labasa, according to the Fijian Government. Metservice Fiji is predicting the centre of the cyclone to be located about 25km northwest of Koro and 130km northeast of Suva by 11pm. By 11am on Friday, it will be about 80km east of Moala and 230km east of Suva.
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Fiji Braces For Powerful Category 5 Cyclone
Tropical Cyclone Yasa is expected to hit the country s two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu later Thursday or early Friday
Authorities in Fiji warned residents in coastal areas to move to higher grounds as a category 5 cyclone heads towards the South Pacific nation.
Tropical Cyclone Yasa is expected to hit the country s two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu later Thursday or early Friday.
Fiji s National Disaster Management Office said it anticipated storm surges and waves of up to 16 metres (52 feet).
Stores were closed and streets were empty in Suva.
Fiji braces for dire situation as category five Cyclone Yasa threatens 600,000 people
WedWednesday 16
updated
WedWednesday 16
DecDecember 2020 at 2:29pm
Cyclone Yasa is currently tracking north-west of Fiji, and is expected to make landfall by Friday.
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Fiji is again bracing for a severe tropical cyclone that has the potential to be one of the most destructive in living memory.
Key points:
Cyclone Yasa is tracking north-west of Fiji s main island, Viti Levu
It is expected to directly hit both of Fiji s main islands as a category five cyclone
Authorities and experts fear it will devastate the country and result in high casualties
Fiji braces for Cyclone Yasa as Tonga, Niue batten down for Zazu 1 minute read
Sydney, Australia, Dec 16 (efe-epa).- The South Pacific island nation of Fiji on Wednesday was bracing for the onslaught of category 5 Cyclone Yasa, as Tonga and Niue prepared for the category 2 Cylone Zazu.
At midday, Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said severe cyclone Yasa was about 500 kilometers northwest of Nadi, on the main island of Viti Levu. It is forecast to hit Fiji late Thursday.
Sustained winds of about 200 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 280 kilometers per hour were expected.
Residents were warned Wednesday to move to evacuation centers, prepare emergency kits, and store food and water, as authorities ordered the closure of schools and an 11 pm curfew.
2020-12-16 11:35:56 GMT2020-12-16 19:35:56(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
SUVA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) Category 5 tropical cyclone Yasa will hit Fiji from Thursday and the Fijian authorities have warned that more than 600,000 people or 66 percent of the Fijian population will be affected.
According to Fiji Meteorological Services on Wednesday, cyclone Yasa, which is currently moving towards Fiji at about 12 km/hr, is located about 395 km northwest of Fiji s third largest city of Nadi at midday on Wednesday. Close to its center, the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 220 km/hr with momentary gusts to 315 km/hr.
During the period from Thursday to Saturday, the cyclone is expected to affect most parts of Fiji, including the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the Yasawa and Mamanuca islands and nearby smaller islands.