Cikobia flattened by Daman

Cikobia Island is reported to have been flattened by the devastating force of Hurricane Daman and reports are surfacing that a number of villagers may have been injured.All communication lines to the island are still down however DISMAC National Operation Center's Joji Satakala told Village News that they have managed to gather information that all homes in the two villagers on the island have been destroyed.According to Satakala the information was received through Radio Telephone this morning.Satakala said other details and the true extent of damage to the island remains unclear at this stage.Labasa Police say they have not received any reports as yet and are also trying to make contact with the island.Medical Superintend at the Labasa Hospital Dr. Ami Chand told Village that they are trying to contact the nurse on the island to verify to get an update on the situation on the island.Meanwhile, Hurrican Daman is currently located 15 decimal 9 South, 179 decimal 6 West, or 45 kilometers East Southeast of Cikobi or 55 km East Northeast of Udu point or 115 Kilometers North north east of Taveuni at 7am this morning and is moving East Southeast at 17 kilometers per.The intensity of winds close to the centre of the hurricane is estimated at 160 kilometers per hour with gusts of 240 kilometers per hour. The hurricane warning remains in force for Cikobia, North Eastern Parts of Vanua Levu and nearby islands with a storm warning in force for the Eastern Parts of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby islands, the Northern and Central Lau Group. A gale warning is in force for the Southern Lau Group.For North Eastern parts of Vanua Levu and nearby islands, winds of very destructive hurricane force with average speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour with momentary gusts to 240 kilometers per hour can be expected from this hour. Over the Southern Lau Group, winds increasing to damaging gale force of 65 kilometers with momentary gusts 110 from later today.Flash flooding of low lying areas, rivers and streams and sea flooding of low lying coastal areas is expected.