The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is located about 40 kilometres West of Lakeba and has been downgraded to a Category 3 Cyclone.
Close to its centre the TC Yasa currently has winds upto 155 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 220 kilometres per hour.
A hurricane warning remains in force for 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 Taveuni and nearby smaller islands and Koro Island.
A gale warning remains in force for the Eastern half of Viti Levu, Matuku, Moala and Totoya, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Yadua, Galoa, Kia and Mali.
The cyclone is moving South East at about 30 kilometres per hour.
The Nadi Weather Office says the cyclone is expected to exit Fiji waters as early as tomorrow morning as a Category 2 Cyclone.
A strong wind warning is in force for the rest of the Fiji group.
A storm surge and damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for Southern coast of Vanua Levu, 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, Southern parts of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
A flood warning remains in force for major rivers of Vanua Levu, for low lying areas and areas adjacent to Vatukacevaceva and downstream of Rakiraki Town and Korovou, Waimanu, Waidina, Qawa, Bagata, Dreketi, Lekutu and Lagalaga 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 Eastern half of Viti Levu.
The cyclone gained speed yesterday and the centre made landfall late yesterday afternoon over Bua Province instead of the projected 8pm timeline by the Nadi Weather Office. This was based on the system moving faster than expected however it was already highlighted that hurricane force winds were expected before the centre passes.
TC Yasa also spent almost the whole night slowly moving over Vanua Levu.
It also took a more south easterly direction and did not take the projected path which has also spared Eastern Viti Levu including Suva and Nausori areas that were earlier under hurricane warning.
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 to do so.
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Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa has left a devastating trail of destruction in Nasau Village and nearby communities in Koro this morning.
Panapasa Nayabakoro who resides in Nasau Village says most of the houses have been destroyed which includes government quarters as well.
He says some government officials and villagers are currently doing clean-up and what they saw this morning reminds them of the devastation that was caused by TC Winston in 2016.
He adds 32 people are currently sheltering at the Nasau Health Centre and the rest are in the schools.
Nayabakoro says they are still experiencing strong winds and rain and the safety of the people is paramount at this stage.
More than seven houses in Naveria, Savusavu has suffered extensive damages due to severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
A resident, Mohammed Hussain says the roof of their home was blown away at around 9.15 last night.
Hussain says they have food supplies however all their clothes and beddings are wet.
He says they are planning to gather the remains of the roof to repair their house as he is already affected by COVID-19 and is on reduced hours.
People in Moala are currently facing destructive winds and heavy rain.
Josaia Wanisi of Vaturogo Village in Naroi, Moala says they started experiencing rain and strong winds from last night but it intensified this morning.
He says some of the houses and roofs have been damaged by the strong wind brought in by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
Wanisi says they have moved about 9 families to the fisheries department on the island while other villages are currently taking shelter at the Moala Primary and Secondary School.
Mumtaz Bano and her family of four from Yalava, Tabia in Labasa are thankful that they survived the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Yasa after taking shelter under their house from 6.30pm to 11pm last night.
Bano says they started experiencing destructive winds at around 4pm yesterday and the roof of their house blew away at around 6.30pm.
She says at around 11pm, she and her family slept in their kitchen with wet clothes.
Bano adds they had biscuit and water for breakfast this morning.
She says they are thinking how to repair their house and they cannot go anywhere as the road is flooded.
23,413 people are currently taking shelter at 456 evacuation centres around the country.
The Director of the National Disaster Management Office Vasiti Soko says 3,468 people are currently in 74 evacuation centres in the Northern Division.
Soko says 5,258 people are in 139 evacuation centres in the Central Division.
12,396 people are in 192 evacuation centres in the Western Division.
2,291 people are in 51 evacuation centres in the Eastern Division.
The Fiji Roads Authority confirms that Queens and Kings Highways are open.
There is a single lane open along Kings Highway just past Nabulini in Wainibuka due to a landslide.
The FRA says 72 roads are closed due to flooding, landslides and fallen trees.
Please note the entrance through Assemblies of God High School which is on Velau Drive in Kinoya is currently closed due to fallen trees and broken power lines.
There are fallen power lines and debris along Nabouwalu Road, Seaqaqa.
Dama District School, Dreketi Primary School and Coboi District School in Vanua Levu have suffered extensive damages.
We are currently trying to speak to the Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar on the confirmation on the number of schools that have been damaged.
The Fiji Bus Operators Association is waiting for clearance from the National Disaster Management Office regarding bus services.
General Secretary Rohit Latchan says as soon as they get the all clear from NDMO, they will advise operators to resume operations.
The nationwide curfew finished at 6 o’clock this morning.
National Disaster Management Office Director, Vasiti Soko says no decision has been made to extend the curfew so it finished at 6am.
People have also called us on whether civil servants have to report to work today.
Soko says that is the Permanent Secretaries’ discretion on whether they want their employees to report to work.
Fijivillage has also been receiving calls on whether businesses can open today and whether public transport will be running.
Soko says they will confirm soon.
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