As Fiji battens down for one of its worst storms in years, a storm that has already claimed one life, local Neil Harrison says he can do little other than watch the huge swell in what he says is usually a calm and protected bay.
Mr Harrison is on Koro Island to the east of the main island of Viti Levu and he told NZPA today conditions after Cyclone Tomas struck in the last 24 hours were "shocking".
The small island has about 14 villages but Mr Harrison, a Scotsman who has lived there for four years, said because of the high winds and downed trees, he could not get out to check on his neighbours.
Wind gusts were reaching about 120km and he was thankful he had left his 14 metre, two-masted ketch in a protected harbour Savusavu on Vanua Levu.
"It is protected anchorage but it took a pretty big hit and all communications are down. I have just heard on the radio all of Savusavu is cut off. It is another thing to worry about."
Mr Harrison said the bay he was on was very protected unless there was a westerly wind.
"Right now I am looking at probably two metre waves coming in the bay." He said he was unable to check on his neighbours.
"We can't go anywhere. There are a lot of trees down. I have tried to reach a couple of villages but we can't get hold of anyone." Mr Harrison said the eye of the storm was about 150km from Koro Island.
"God knows what it is like in the middle. If we are 150km from this thing and we are copping what we are getting I really don't know what it is like under the eye. They will be getting twice this." He said Fiji had had good warning about the cyclone.
"We have been watching it for about eight days building up," he said.
On some of the outer islands wind gusts were reaching 250kmh, and the storm was thought to be the worst to hit the islands for at least seven years.
Police reported Tamarisi Tabua was swept away and killed ina sea surge. She had been taking part in a ceremony with her family at Labasa, on the northern island of Viti Levu, when she was swept into the sea.
Widespread damage has been reported on many of the outer islands but the main island of Viti Levu has so far escaped relatively unscathed.
More heavy seas and high winds were expected in the next 24 hours.
About 5000 people from Fiji's second-largest island Vanua Levu were taken to emergency centres from their homes yesterday.
Compounding the weather problems in the region was Tropical Cyclone Ului, which has pounded the Solomon Islands.
Dean Innes, a New Zealand contractor who was installing electricity sub stations in Fiji, told NZPA he had moved to a hotel near Suva but conditions were not bad.
"It's really like a bad winter's day in New Zealand.
"It is coming up over the stone wall, the waves, but it is nothing really." In Lami Bay where the hotel was it was gusty and squally but there was little damage, although a boat had caught a rope around its propeller and had hit a restaurant on the waterfront.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) has advised New Zealanders in Fiji and the Solomon Islands to follow instructions issued by the local authorities, monitor local media reports and register their details at www.safetravel.govt.nz.
As flights in and out of Fiji had been suspended due to the cyclone, travellers with immediate plans to travel to Fiji should check with their airline or travel agent, an Mfat spokesperson said. There were about 480 New Zealanders registered with the ministry as being in Fiji and around 60 registered as being in Solomon Islands.
This morning Tomas was 240km east northeast of Suva, and was now passing over the low-lying Lau group.
Due to the effects of the storm, and problems with communications there were no official damage assessments yet from affected areas. New Zealand had received no request for assistance, but stood ready to help the people of Fiji if required, the spokesperson said.
There have been no reports of injuries from Ului, but there had been some damage to buildings.
