The National Emergency Operations Centre has established contact with villagers in Vatoa and Ono-i-Lau and is now assessing damages after Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita battered the two islands in the Lau group overnight.

The Director National Disaster Management Office Anare Leweniqila is expected to give an update on initial assessments later today.

The destructive force of Tropical Cyclone Gita has left behind massive devastation to farms in Ono-i-Lau.

Tomasi Tuwai of Doi Village says they are collecting the pieces of what is left and a plan has been put in place to rebuild their farms in the next two weeks.

He has confirmed that the five families who lost their house to the cyclone are now being accommodated by other families.

As Tropical Cyclone Gita continues to move away, the Nadi Weather Office says a gale warning remains in force for Matuku, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands including Ono, Buliya and Dravuni.

It adds that all the other areas including Viti levu and Vanua Levu should experience heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Expect flash flooding in low lying areas

A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji.

The Weather Office also says that the Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita was located about 235 kilometers South of Kadavu at 11am this morning and continues to move West away from Fiji at 16 kilometers per hour.