Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Tino was located 150 kilometres East-Northeast of Lakeba at 6 this morning and is moving Southeast at 37 kilometres per hour.
A Tropical Cyclone Warning is in force for Vanua Balavu, Cicia, Tuvuca, Nayau, Lakeba, Vanuavatu, Oneata, Moce, Komo, Kabara, Namuka-i-Lau, Fulaga, Ogea, Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa.
The Nadi Weather Office has cancelled the Tropical Cyclone Warning for the Eastern Half of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Lomaiviti group.
Close to it’s centre, the cyclone is expected to have damaging winds gusting to 155 kilometres per hour.
Expect damaging winds and continuous heavy rain over the Lau group and nearby islands this morning.
Please also note that damaging winds will be felt before and after the centre of the cyclone passes over the Fiji Group.
Strong winds may cause loose objects to fly, damage to root crops and break tree branches.
It may even cause damages to weak structures and blow away roofs when it intensifies to damaging winds later this morning.
A heavy rain warning remains in force for the Southern and Eastern Parts of the larger islands, Lomaiviti and the Lau Group.
The Nadi Weather Office says a flash flood warning remains in force for low lying areas, small streams and flood prone areas of Southern and Eastern parts of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Sea flooding should be expected along coastal areas especially during high tides.
Projected Track
The Nadi Weather Office says on its forecasted track, the centre of Tropical Cyclone Tino is expected to be located 260 kilometres East-South East of Lakeba at midday today.
Situation Report
Team is now on the ground to conduct the initial damage assessment - Rainima
By: Naveel Krishant
Acting Commissioner Northern, Uraia Rainima says his team is now on the ground to conduct the initial damage assessments.
He says there were close to 65 evacuation centres activated overnight with more than 2,600 people in the centres.
Rainima says his team will go and check on the evacuees and check if their houses have sustained damages due to TC Tino.
He also says that they are aiming to clear school’s that are evacuation centres quickly so that classes are not affected on Monday.
Thousands of people without power supply in parts of the Northern Division
By: Priteshni Nand
Thousands of people living in parts of the Northern Division are currently without power supply.
Energy Fiji Limited says their teams are on the ground to conduct the assessment.
Meanwhile, Sashi Lata of Bulileka Labasa says there is no power supply in the area since 6pm yesterday.
Lata says there are no fallen power lines in the area.
Dijendra Dutt from Wainikoro, Labasa says they do not have power supply in the area since 5pm yesterday.
Dutt says there are no fallen power lines in the area.
Villagers of Lakeba continue to experience strong winds and heavy rain
By: Violet Matakibau
Villagers of Lakeba continue to experience strong winds and heavy rain since this morning.
Viliame Gaunavinaka of Waitabu says he saw fallen tree branches all over the village ground.
Gaunavinaka says the neighboring village Waciwaci was flooded due the storm surges.
Vanua Balavu in Lau still experiencing strong winds with light showers as TC Tino passes through Lau Group
By: Shanil Singh
The community of Boitaci on Vanua balavu yesterday as they prepared for TC Tino [Photo:Red Cross]
People in Vanua Balavu Island in Lau are still experiencing strong winds with light showers as Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Tino passes through the Lau Group.
Viliame Kaseni who is a teacher at Adi Maopa Secondary School in Lomaloma says they experienced heavy rain with strong winds and rough seas.
Kaseni says there were no damages to the school and all students are safe as they were sent home at 12pm yesterday.
He says the only damages caused by TC Tino is the damages to crops and trees.
He says they were well prepared for this cyclone as they had learned their lesson when TC Winston hit Fiji in 2016.
The owner of Moana’s Guesthouse in Lomaloma, Tevita Fotofili also says the wind has now started to slow down after it intensified overnight.
899 people currently staying in 24 evacuation centres in the North
By: Navitalai Naivalurua
899 people are currently staying in 24 evacuation centres in the Northern Division.
This has been confirmed by the Acting Commissioner Northern, Uraia Rainima who says people in low lying areas moved to an evacuation centre close to them to survive the night.
We have received confirmation that two families took shelter at Vuetikorovatu Memorial Church in Nadilo Village in Qamea overnight as they feared their homes were not secure enough.
Villager Solo Naibuka says all thirty people in the village are safe and there is no major damage to any houses as they prepared well.
In Navaca in Taveuni, there are no major reports of damages this morning.
Ravinesh Goundar who is the Head Teacher of South Taveuni Primary School spoke to us this morning.
ROADS
The Queens and Kings Highways are open.
The Fiji Roads Authority has confirmed that Queens Highway at Vunaniu Flats is now open to two lanes.
Please take necessary precautions if you are travelling through Edinburgh Drive in Suva this morning as there is rock fall along the road.
The Suva bound lane is affected by rockfall.
We have notified the Fiji Roads Authority about the situation along Edinburgh Drive.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
