The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is located about 215 kilometres North of Nadi and it continues to track towards us.
Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have very destructive winds upto 250 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 350 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone is moving East South East at about 19 kilometres per hour.
On this track, at 8pm tonight the cyclone centre is expected to be located about 100 kilometres East of Yasawa-i-Rara or about 90 kilometres West South West of Labasa.
The centre is expected to make landfall over the province of Bua at 8pm tonight.
Further, at 8am tomorrow morning, the centre of Yasa is expected to be about 50 kilometres North North East of Moala or about 165 kilometres East of Suva.
Destructive winds are likely this afternoon, tonight into tomorrow before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.
A hurricane warning remains in force for Yasawa group, Northern and Eastern half of Viti Levu (from Tavua to Rakiraki to Korovou, through to Suva to Navua], Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands including Yadua, Galoa, Kia and Mali, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Matuku, Moala, Totoya and Lomaiviti group.
A storm warning remains in force for Mamanuca group, the rest of Viti Levu, Cikobia and the rest of Lau group....
Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 60 issued 9:14am Thursday 17 December 2020 [Image: Fiji Met]
A gale warning remains in force for Rotuma, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.
A storm surge and damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for coastal waters of Rotuma, Yasawa and Mamanuca group, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Lau group.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the whole of Fiji.
A severe flood warning is in force for low lying areas and areas adjacent to Vatukacevaceva and downstream of Rakiraki Town.
A flash flood warning remains in force for the low lying areas and areas adjacent to small streams for Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, areas adjacent to Dreketilailai to Qawa River, low lying areas and areas adjacent to Bagata River in Savusavu.
A flash flood alert remain in force for low lying areas and areas adjacent to major rivers for Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
For Yasawa group, Northern and Eastern half of Viti Levu (from Tavua to Rakiraki to Korovou, through to Suva to Navua), Vanua Levu and nearby smaller islands including Yadua, Galoa, Kia and Mali, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Matuku, Moala, Totoya and Lomaiviti group.
Expect very destructive hurricane force winds upto 240 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts upto 345 kilometres per hour, periods of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms, flash flooding of low lying areas expected, landslides likely especially with continuous heavy falls, phenomenal seas and damaging heavy swells. Storm surge with sea flooding of low lying coastal areas expected during high tides.
You can also check out the latest updates, listen to our livestream, check out satellite images, track maps, photos and videos on our website, fijivillage
You can also contact us on 3314766, Vodafone number 9923352 or our Digicel number 7734766 for any queries on evacuation centres or assistance for emergency personnel.
Stay with us for developments.
[Album images: PM Voreqe Bainimarama]
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A State of Natural Disaster has been declared for the whole of Fiji for the next 30 days.
While making the announcement NDMO Director, Vasiti Soko says this is active from yesterday.
Soko says this declaration will come with regulations.
She says this allows the NDMO to call on all of the government's assets to be on standby and be mobilized.
Soko says the declaration allows the NDMO to efficiently and effectively plan and coordinate the preparedness and response phases for Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
She says it will also assist NDMO, ministries and departments to manage and control activities to ensure the safety and security of the public.
The declaration means the evacuation of people in their own interests, or in order to facilitate the necessary operations of the Police or Military personnel, the temporary acquisition or control of any property, undertaking or land, the entering and searching of any premises and the supply and distribution of essential relief supplies, medical assistance, shelter or other resources.
It also means the maintenance of transportation by land, sea or air and the control of the transport of persons and resources, directing the movement of persons by land, sea or air in the interest of safety and prohibiting the unjustified exploitation of a disaster for profit.
Soko says this declaration was made upon the advice of the Emergency Committee, as per the powers conferred on the Cabinet by section 17 of the Natural Disaster Management Act 1998.
She says should members of the public require evacuation after 4pm, they can contact their District Office or Police Station nearest to them but has advised the public to ensure that all movements especially evacuations occur as much as possible before 4pm.
Under the declaration, any person, body or entity who contravenes any order made by an officer of the Fiji Police Force or the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces in performing a role or discharging a responsibility under these regulations commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.
The Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has advised members of the public that curfew passes will be issued for emergency cases only.
This is in line with the directives by the National Disaster Management Office this afternoon in terms of the new curfew hours due to Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
The Acting Commissioner said unnecessary movement will be prohibited and passes will be issued for emergency cases only.
He adds that those who wish to travel due to emergency cases can obtain passes from NDMO or any of the Divisional Command Centres, Totogo Police Station, Korovou Police Station, Levuka Police Station, Vunidawa Police Station, Sigatoka Police Station, Nadi Police Station, Ba Police Station, Rakiraki Police Station, Tavua Police Station, Nabouwalu Police Station, Seaqaqa Police Station, Taveuni Police Station, Tukavesi Police Station, Savusavu Police Station, Navua Police Station, Lami Police Station, Nasinu Police Station and Valelevu Police Station.
The Acting Commissioner is reminding members of the public that officers will also be manning the checkpoint at various locations to ensure no unnecessary movement.
531 people are currently sheltering in 24 evacuation centres in the Western, Central and Northern Division.
286 people are sheltering in 5 evacuation centres in the Western Division, 140 people in 7 centres in the North and 105 people in 12 evacuation centres in the Central Division.
Meanwhile Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says he stopped over at evacuation centres at the Delainamasi Government School and Bishop Kempthorne Memorial School to check on Fijians preparing for Cyclone Yasa’s arrival.
Bainimarama says there are now over 50 evacuation centres opened and occupied across the country.
You can use "Find my EC" by texting "EC" to 132877 using viber, messenger or sms.
The people of Bua have taken precautionary measures as they anticipate the worst as the centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa is expected to make landfall in Bua later today.
Families from Luvuluvu and Tausa are currently taking shelter at Bua Primary School.
Headteacher Kishore Lal says they experienced heavy rain and strong winds overnight which led to flooding in some areas.
He says he is thankful that people have started moving before the cyclone reaches the country.
Villagers in Matacawalevu in Yasawa are starting to experience damaging winds and heavy rain.
Village headman, Jone Toge says the sea is starting to get rough and tree branches have started to fall.
He says they have restricted movement in the village.
Toge says a group of men are helping people move to their village hall which has been set up as a evacuation centre.
Flood waters have started to enter most of the shops in Rakiraki Town.
People residing near the town have started to move to evacuation centres as flood waters have started to enter their compounds.
Stay with us for more.
About 40 people from Madhuvani, Rakiraki and nearby areas have evacuated to Madhuvani Sangam Primary School as they are experiencing destructive winds and heavy rain.
Advisory Councillor, Pardip Kumar says more people are coming in to take shelter and are calling him for assistance.
Both Queens and Kings highways are open.
As Tropical Cyclone Yasa intensifies, the Fiji Roads Authority is urging the public to remain vigilant and take heed of advisories from relevant authorities.
Beware of the possibility of rock falls, landslides and debris on the roadway amidst heavy rain.
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the curfew will start from 4pm today.
Bainimarama has told Fijivillage that the curfew period will be from 4pm today to 6am tomorrow.
The Prime Minister has also tweeted that over 850,000 Fijians are in the direct path of the world’s strongest storm, category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
Bainimarama says more than 95% of Fiji’s population are in the direct path of TC Yasa.
He says people should prepare, take cover, take care and pray for Fiji.
Both Queens and Kings highways are open.
As Tropical Cyclone Yasa intensifies, the Fiji Roads Authority is urging the public to remain vigilant and take heed of advisories from relevant authorities.
Beware of the possibility of rock falls, landslides and debris on the roadway amidst heavy rain.
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the curfew will start from 4pm today.
Bainimarama has told Fijivillage that the curfew period will be from 4pm today to 6am tomorrow.
The Prime Minister has also tweeted that over 850,000 Fijians are in the direct path of the world’s strongest storm, category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
Bainimarama says more than 95% of Fiji’s population are in the direct path of TC Yasa.
He says people should prepare, take cover, take care and pray for Fiji.
Due to the approaching cyclone, the Association of Banks in Fiji confirms that all banks will be closed today and tomorrow until further notice.
Association of Banks in Fiji members includes ANZ Bank, BSP, Bank of Baroda, Bred Bank, HFC and Westpac.
Customers can access ATMs and other E-channels, throughout the country.
All Nasinu and Nausori markets will be closed from midday today and will remain closed tomorrow.
This has been confirmed by Nausori Market Manager, Jitendra Singh who says the council will monitor the situation tomorrow and decide on the opening of the market on Saturday.
Singh is also urging all roadside vendors to take necessary precautions and remove all the temporary sheds.
Supermarkets and essential services in Savusavu and Labasa will only operate until midday today while other businesses will not operate as TC Yasa continues to head towards Fiji.
President of Savusavu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ravi Kumar says they experienced heavy rain last night and places such as Batiri are flooded however they have not experienced strong winds.
Meanwhile, it also rained heavily in Labasa last night and areas such as Seaqaqa, Laqere in Tabia are flooded.
44 families that are close to the vicinity of Energy Fiji Limited’s transmission lines in Cunningham have been moved to the Delainamasi Primary School evacuation centre.
The National Disaster Management Office says they were moved with the help of first responders.
Yasawa has been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds from last night as Tropical Cyclone Yasa moves closer to the Fiji group.
Anare Tiko of Gunu Village in Naviti Island, Yasawa says at 3 this morning, they left for the Gaunavou Primary School.
He says a few coconut trees have been uprooted.
Meanwhile, Pastor Viliame Stark of Nasoqo Village in Naviti Island says the destructive winds are causing heavy swells and they have moved those families beside the sea to the evacuation centre at Gaunavou Primary School.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
