The Nadi Weather Office says the centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is expected to exit Vanua Levu this hour however the hurricane-force winds will continue as the rest of the system continues to track out of the Northern Division.
The centre is currently just over Savusavu.
It is located about 50 kilometres South West of Labasa or about 65 kilometres North North West of Koro Island.
Yasa is wreaking havoc over Vanua Levu as many houses have been destroyed, some families are sheltering in corners of houses, under beds and tables and some are even sheltering in cane plantations.
The National Disaster Management Office confirms emergency personnel can only go out when it is safe as destructive winds continue in Vanua Levu.
At about 11pm tonight, the centre is expected to be located about 25 kilometres West North West of Koro or about 130 kilometres North East of Suva.
The cyclone forecasters say for Suva and Nausori areas – the warning has been downgraded from destructive hurricane force winds to damaging storm force winds for now as the centre of the cyclone has taken a more south easterly direction and will now go over Koro Sea onto Southern Lau.
At 11am tomorrow, the centre of TC Yasa is expected to be about 80 kilometres East of Moala or about 230 kilometres East of Suva.
Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds up to 240 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 345 kilometres per hour. The cyclone continues to move South East at about 18 kilometres per hour.
Destructive winds are likely to begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
Widespread heavy rain poses the risk of river flooding and flash flooding of low lying and flood prone areas. With the ground already saturated, there is also risk of landslides in landslide prone areas.
Expect extremely rough seas having a significant wave height of 14 metres or more and damaging heavy swells. Storm surge with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas expected during high tides, with storm surge heights up to 3 metres expected along the coast when the cyclone centre passes nearby.
Related Stories;
Damaging winds are already being experienced in Ovalau tonight.
A Levuka resident, Elesi Aditila is sheltering at Ovalau Island Resort.
She is there with her husband, son and four other people.
All guests left yesterday.
Aditila says as they brace for Cyclone Yasa, she hopes they do not have to go through the same situation during TC Winston where they had to rebuild everything.
People in Taveuni are still experiencing damaging winds as Tropical Cyclone Yasa continues to track out of the Northern Division.
Sabin Prasad, who is a school teacher at Wairiki Secondary School, says the situation there is really bad with the roofs of around six houses sustaining serious damages.
He is afraid that most houses which include his own will not stand for long if the strong winds continue.
Residents in the Korovesi Sunshine Villas in Savusavu are currently experiencing destructive winds.
Avishek Ram says with the power out, only thing they can hear is flying debris.
Ram says the sound of the wind is scary itself let alone the sound of trees and tree branches breaking.
Savusavu resident Mario Hellenbrand says the noise is unbelievable especially with the rain easing now and the destructive winds continuing. Hellenbrand says he is worried about the situation outside as he really can’t see anything.
He says all you can do is continuously check the house.
A couple in Batinikama, Labasa is currently stuck in a corner of their home after almost half their house was blown away due to strong winds this evening.
Raksha Singh says her 13-year-old daughter and 2-year-old baby have been evacuated to a relative’s house nearby.
She says they are fearing for their lives.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
