SUVA – Fiji was yesterday morning bracing for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Winston, a Category Five storm expected to bring huge waves and destructive winds.

Winston was forecast to hit the capital, Suva, late yesterday.

Authorities have advised the nation to take necessary precautions, as experts warn Tropical Cyclone Winston is potentially one of the most destructive cyclones in recent times.

The Fijian Red Cross has put emergency response teams on standby across the country.

The government has compared the storm to Cyclone Pam, which devastated Vanuatu last year.

The storm had been expected to move through the islands overnight Friday and into Saturday.

Heavy rainfall of between 200-400mm is expected.

Cyclone Winston earlier passed through Tonga’s northern Vava’u island as a category four storm, but caused less damage than had been expected, Australia’s ABC said.

Several days ago Winston had passed eastwards through the same islands as a Category Two storm, before reversing course and heading back westwards.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston is now continuing westward and has already hit areas in the Lau group of islands as it tracked towards more populated areas.

The storm was carrying average winds of 220 kilometres per hour, with gusts of up to 315 kilometres per hour, Fiji’s Meteorological Service said.

Fiji’s National Disaster Management office said more than 700 evacuation centres across the country are ready and on standby in the four regions.

Some families have already moved into the centres according to the office’s George Dregaso.

“Those that don’t have a proper house and those living along coastal and rivers that are vulnerable to storm surge and flooding.”

Dregaso has urged those living in the low lying areas have been advised to move to higher ground.

He also added that people have been advised to secure their homes and keep a check on their children.

Midday yesterday Fijivillage had received confirmation that Cyclone Winston was currently passing over Vanua Balavu, the main island of the Northern Lau Group.

Speaking to residents in Vanua Balavu on a satellite phone, they said that some houses were badly damaged early in the morning and people had rushed to other houses to seek shelter.

“We have also received confirmation that some significant structures have been badly damaged.

“Winston will then move past to Koro and then onwards to Viti Levu. The eye of the cyclone is now forecast to make landfall north of Nausori near Korovou.

“Tropical Cyclone Winston is expected to move across Viti Levu before exiting near Nadi.

This was expected to occur at about 6 pm yesterday evening.

Fiji’s NaDraki weather service said the system posed a direct and very serious threat to Fiji.

Editors note: With reports of cyclones it is always difficult to get the very latest picture from affected communities while the storm is raging. This report gives the overall picture from a number of news sources as at midday yesterday when CI News went to print. Updated report in Monday’s paper.

- PNC sources