Category 4 TC Harold continues to move east-southeast direction and currently affecting Lau Group

The Lau Group is currently feeling the brunt of Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Harold as the large system continues to move in the east-southeast direction.

Earlier this afternoon, TC Harold affected Kadavu badly.

All communication links are down in Kadavu and Lau but we have received reports that they are experiencing destructive winds.

There has been widespread damage in Dravuni in Kadavu.

We have managed to get photos from Dravuni and you can checkout the photos on our website, Fijivillage

The centre of Cyclone Harold was located about 40 kilometres South of Matuku or about 190 kilometres Northwest of Ono-I-Lau at 6pm this evening.

Close to its centre, the cyclone is estimated to have average winds of upto 175 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 250 kilometres per hour.

The cyclone is currently moving east-southeast at about 38 kilometres per hour, and is quickly moving across Fijian waters.

On this track, the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 60 kilometres East of Ono-i-Lau or 190 kilometres South-southeast of Kabara at midnight tonight and about 330 kilometres east-southeast of Ono-i-Lau at 6am tomorrow.

Destructive and damaging winds are likely to begin a few or several hours before the cyclone centre passes nearby.

For Matuku, Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau: expect very destructive hurricane force winds with speeds up to 170 kilometres per hour and momentary gusts to 240 kilometres per hour.

Damaging heavy swells with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas is expected during high tides, with storm surge heights of upto 2 metres expected along the coasts when the centre passes nearby.

For the rest of southern parts of Viti Levu [from the Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour], Moala, Totoya, Vanuavatu and the rest of southern Lau Group: destructive storm force winds with speeds up to 110 kilometres per hour and momentary gusts to 155 kilometres per hour.

A gale warning remains in force for the rest of Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Lomaiviti Group, the rest of the Lau Group, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands.

A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji.

A heavy rain warning remains in force for the Fiji Group. A flash flood warning remains in force for low lying areas and small streams within the Rakiraki Catchment and is now in force for the rest of the low lying areas and small streams within catchments in Fiji.

A flood warning is also in place for low lying areas and areas adjacent to and downstream of the Navua, Ba, Wainibuka, Rewa, Wainimala, Waimanu, Sigatoka and Tuva River.