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Massive cyclone Yasa moves towards Fiji's outer islands

Cyclone Yasa tore across the northern Fiji island of Vanua Levu last night and remains a category 5 storm but with signs of weakening.

Fallen trees block Transinsular Road, near Lomaloma Village as Cyclone Yasa makes landfall in Fiji.

Photo: Facebook / Fijian Government

Many homes have reportedly been destroyed and power and phones are down after winds of 240km/h – with gusts as high as as 345km/h – but the scale of devastation will not be known until later this morning.

The massive storm system is moving away from Vanua Levu towards Fiji’s outer eastern islands.

Sakeasi Waibuta from Fiji’s Met Service says the storm sat over Vanua Levu – Fiji’s second largest island – for three hours.

“It remains to be a Category 5, but intensity-wise for the winds, it has dropped from 240 kilometres per hour to 200 kilometres per hour.

“On satellite it is showing signs of initial weakening.”

Waibuta said the were still waiting on full reports on damage, and storm surges had also been expected.

Yasa is now heading through the Southern Lau Island group.

People in Fiji’s northern division are described Cyclone Yasa as the scariest experiences of their lives.

“It’s a nightmare,” said Banuve Lasaqa Lusi, a resident of Labasa, the main town on Vanua Levu. “The thunderous sound of the wind and what is flying around is what’s frightening.”

She said the sound of the wind was deafening, and power and some communication had been cut out from the town.

Video from Bua, where the cyclone landed, shows sheets of torrential rain pelting the ground, and roofs being lifted by the sheer force of the wind.

From Labasa, Lusi said she had made some contact with the Bua region.

“People have had their houses flattened, have escaped with the clothes on their back and are sheltering under beds, under houses as they await help,” she said.

“Help that most probably will come when the winds die down.”

Uniquely Nelson

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