Bangkok (dpa) – A powerful cyclone was barreling through the South Pacific island nation of Fiji on Saturday, with wind gusts toppling power lines and heavy rains raising fears of flooding.
Cyclone Winston was packing an average wind speed of 220 kilometres per hour, the equivalent of a Category 5 storm, the Fiji meteorological service said.
A handout picture provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Cyclone Winston over Fiji, 20 February 2016.
“Very destructive” winds were expected, with gusts up to 315 km/h, while some low lying areas would experience heavy swells and sea flooding, the service said.
The government imposed a 6 p.m. curfew and residents were hunkered down in their homes or in one of 700 evacuation shelters across the island chain with 900,000 people.
“Tropical Cyclone Winston is now the strongest tropical cyclone and the first Category 5 TC on record to hit Fiji,” wrote Lisa Murray, a meteorologist at New Zealand’s MetService.
The Fiji Red Cross reported power outages across the country, including the capital city Suva.
“As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We must stick together as a people and look after each other,” Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama wrote on Facebook.
“I want to assure the nation that the government is thoroughly prepared to deal with this crisis,” he continued.
Tourist videos showed downed power lines and strong sea swells in coastal areas as the leading edge of the storm began hitting the islands in the afternoon.
Flights in and out of the country have been cancelled.
Category 5 is the most severe rating for a storm.
