The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is located about 50 kilometres North North West of Koro and continues to track into the Koro Sea and then to Southern Lau.
Yasa is taking this path after leaving a trail of destruction in Vanua 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 southeasterly 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.
Close to its centre the TC Yasa currently has winds up to 205 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 285 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone is moving South East at about 22 kilometres per hour.
We have received reports that people in Koro are experiencing hurricane-force winds.
A hurricane warning remains in force for the Eastern half of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, 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 and rest of Lomaiviti group.
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.
A strong wind warning is in force for the rest of the Fiji group.
A storm surge and damaging heavy swell warning remain 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 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 Eastern half of Viti Levu.
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Destructive winds are beig experienced in Koro this morning with villagers moving to evacuation centres on higher ground due to sea flooding.
In Nasau Village, Koro, people have been relocated to two evacuation centres.
Panapasa Nayaba-koro says 32 people are 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.
A teacher at Nacamaki Primary School in Koro, Ilisabeta Daurewa says 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 last night they could not stop the rain from seeping into the windows and doors and moved all children to the dry places in the rooms.
It has been a very difficult couple of hours for many families as Tropical Cyclone Yasa swept through the Northern Division last night and early this morning.
A couple in Batinikama, Labasa were stuck in a corner of their home after almost half of their house was blown away due to strong winds.
Raksha Singh says they are safe and are staying at a relative’s home with their 13-year-old daughter and 2-year-old baby.
Last night, we also received reports of five families sheltering underneath the floor of a house in Nasarawaqa, Bua after their homes were blown away.
According to reports, these people could not call for help as their phones were wet.
Some families were sheltering under beds as their roofs were blown away in Tabia.
About 9 houses in Yalava, Tabia were flattened to the ground.
A family in Vunivere, Seaqaqa took shelter in a corner of their house after almost half of their roof was blown away by strong winds.
Liaqat Ali says some other houses in the area also suffered severe damages.
People in Taveuni also felt the full brunt of the monster cyclone as a number of homes in Wairiki suffered severe damages.
Sabin Prasad, who is a school teacher in Wairiki says they are still experiencing damaging winds and it has started to rain heavily as well.
He says he saw people running away with torches as it is highly likely that their homes were blown away.
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