The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is now located about 60 kilometres South-East of Labasa and continues to move in a southeasterly direction as it goes over the Koro Sea and over Southern Lau.
Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 220 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 315 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone is moving South East at about 18 kilometres per hour.
Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Yadua, Galoa, Kia and Mali are now only under a gale warning.
A hurricane warning remains in force for Eastern half of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Koro, Yacata, Cicia, Nayau, Vanuabalavu, Lakeba, Oneata, Vanuavatu, Moce, Kabara, Namuka-i-Lau, Ogea, Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau.
A storm warning remains in force for the western half of Vanua Levu, Cikobia, Matuku, Moala and Totoya and rest of Lomaiviti group.
A storm surge and damaging heavy swell warning remain in force for coastal waters of Rotuma, Eastern coast of Viti Levu, Southern coast of Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the interior and Eastern parts of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
A flood warning remains in force major rivers in Vanua Levu, for low lying areas and areas adjacent to Vatukacevaceva and downstream of Rakiraki Town and Korovou, Waimanu and Waidina rivers. A flash flood warning remains in force for the low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams of Vanua Levu and low lying areas of the Eastern half of Viti Levu.
For the Eastern half of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Koro, Yacata, Cicia, Nayau, Vanuabalavu, Lakeba, Oneata, Vanuavatu, Moce, Kabara, Namuka-i-Lau, Ogea, Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau - expect very destructive hurricane-force winds upto 220 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 315 kilometres per hour, periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
For Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Yadua, Galoa, Kia and Mali - expect damaging gale force winds with average speeds upto 85 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts upto 120 kilometres per hour, occasional rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms over the Eastern parts and interior of Viti Levu.
Meanwhile, many houses in Vanua Levu have been destroyed, some families had to shelter in corners of houses, under beds and tables and some even had to shelter in cane plantations as Cyclone Yasa wreaked havoc in many parts of the Northern Division overnight.
The National Disaster Management Office confirms emergency personnel can only go out when it is safe as destructive winds continue in Vanua Levu.
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Destructive winds and heavy rain are currently being felt in Nasau Village in Koro and people have been relocated to two evacuation centres.
Panapasa Nayabakoro says 32 people are currently sheltering at the Nasau Health Centre and the rest are in a school.
He says most of their houses are flooded and others had their houses blown away.
Nayabakoro says no one can sleep as rain has entered the evacuation centre.
A teacher at Nacamaki District School in Koro, Ilisabeta Daurewa says they are experiencing damaging winds at the moment and several kitchen sheds in the village have been blown away.
She says more than 100 people are taking shelter in six classrooms at the school.
Daurewa says there is heavy rain and while they cannot see anything, they can hear waves continuing to crash through at the lower end of the village.
She says they cannot stop the rain from seeping into the windows and doors and for now they have moved all children to the dry places in the rooms while the men continue to stand guard.
She says Nacamaki District School is on high ground and they are safe for now.
People in Taveuni are experiencing damaging winds as Tropical Cyclone Yasa continues to wreak havoc in the Northern Division.
Sabin Prasad, who is a school teacher in Wairiki says the weather there is getting worse with a number of homes sustaining serious damages.
Prasad says he can see people running away with torches as it is highly likely that their homes have been blown away.
He adds the roofs of around six houses has sustained serious damages.
Four families of Vunivau in Labasa are currently sheltering in a house without a roof.
Nandani Nand says they sheltered three families when they started experiencing destructive winds.
Nand says when their neighbours came seeking for help, they sheltered them and now their roof has blown away and some of them are soaking wet.
She says that she managed to get hold of a relative who then contacted the authorities about their situation.
UNICEF is on standby to support the Government of Fiji to respond to the urgent needs of families affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett says they are on standby to provide support to the government to respond to the urgent needs of families and children who will be affected by the disastrous impacts of Cyclone Yasa.
He says they will work with government, civil society and other partners to provide clean water, and emergency health and education supplies for children in affected communities.
UNICEF says supplies like essential water, sanitation and hygiene items, including soap, water containers and buckets, to ensure children and families have access to clean drinking water as well as emergency health and midwifery kits, including basic drugs, medical supplies and equipment, are prepositioned and ready to be distributed to those most in need.
UNICEF is also ready to support communities by providing tents, and basic supplies to support learning needs and help children to regain a sense of normalcy as soon as possible after the disaster.
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