Mar 15, 2010, 7:12 GMT
Wellington - Thousands of people huddled in emergency evacuation centres in Fiji Monday as Tropical Cyclone Tomas lashed the Pacific island state with rains and winds gusting to 230 kilometres per hour.
Authorities imposed a night-time curfew over much of the country to protect lives in what was reported to be the worst cyclone to hit the islands in 20 years.
More than 100 evacuation centres were established and as the first reports of damage in the northern region came in people were urged to seek shelter before the eye of the storm reached them.
The category-four cyclone intensified during the day and Rajendra Prasad, the director of meteorology, warned that it would reach peak strength during Monday night, according to the Fiji Times website.
There was relief when forecasters said the cyclone, which was moving south at about 10 kilometres an hour, was tracking to pass east of Nadi, the site of Fiji's international airport, around midnight and also miss the capital, Suva.
But Prasad said it had estimated average winds of 175 kilometres per hour and momentary gusts up to 230 kilometres per hour close to the centre.
He said destructive gale force winds extended to about 280 kilometres from the centre and substantial flooding was expected from rains and surging seas reported to be landing waves of 7-8 metres on the coast.
Towns on Fiji's second biggest island, Vanua Levu, were without electricity and there were reports of houses being destroyed as low lying areas were flooded by the cyclone's rains and massive seas crashing on the shore.
Schools were ordered closed for the day and civil servants told to stay at home.
A 31-year-old woman became the first victim of the cyclone Sunday when huge waves swept her out to sea just metres from a beach on Vanua Levu, Fijilive reported.
A nationwide curfew imposed at midnight Sunday was lifted early Monday to allow people to stock up on emergency supplies.
It remained in force in the northern region and the government ordered new ones in other parts of the country for Monday night.
Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni, spokesman for the military government, said the curfews were to ensure public safety, Fijilive news website reported.
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