A gale warning remains in force for Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau and a strong wind warning and heavy rain warning remain in force for the rest of the Lau and Lomaiviti Group.
The Nadi Weather Office says this is due to Category 3 Severe Tropical Cyclone Pola which is about 100km southeast of Ono-i-Lau and its moving southwards at 18km/hr as at 5am this morning.
It says that TC Pola is expected to continue to track southwards for the next 24 hours moving away from the group to exit Fiji waters later tonight.
Meanwhile schools in Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa have been closed as they continue to experience strong winds and heavy rain.
Speaking to Fijivillage from Ono-i-Lau, Seruwaia Ikatoga who is a school teacher confirms that 2 families have taken shelter at Onolevu District School while two teachers are sheltering at the school’s staff room.
Vuli Gade from Vatoa says they started experiencing strong winds from around 8 o’clock last night and woke up this morning with breadfruit and coconuts all over the place.
Gade says that they are restricting movement in the village as strong winds continue to be experienced adding that they will assess damages once the weather begins to clear.
