Cyclone Tomas: The graphic estimates where Cyclone Tomas will head to next. Image courtesy of www.met.gov.fj.

Pacific Scoop:
Report By PMC news desk.

UPDATED: Cyclone Tomas has pounded Fiji with winds gusting up to 275 km/h, causing widespread damage across the islands and is now tracking southward.

After more than 24 hours of pounding Fiji, initial reports suggest Cyclone Tomas has caused at least one death, and UNICEF officers write of significant infrastructure damage, widespread disruptions to power supplies, drinking water and transportation, flooding and eight metre sea-swells.

NASA has been tracking the storm and reports that Tomas grew into a “monster Category 4” cyclone immediately prior to thrashing Fiji’s northern islands. Tomas has been packing sustained winds at over 210 km/h and damage reports are being lodged with Fiji’s authorities now.

Rob Gutro of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center writes: “Tomas has already caused damages for residents of the northern Fiji islands. Damage reports are still coming in, but power losses and flooding have been reported.

“Evacuations have taken place in Labassa, Wainiika, Nuku and Vatu because of flooding. Other reports indicate that schools and government buildings have been closed. Tourists were evacuated and flights have been temporarily cancelled to and from Fiji’s main airport.”

Flights into Fiji resumed Tuesday morning.

The Fiji Interim Military Government has detailed what it will need from its neighbors throughout the recovery period.

Anthony Blake, of Fiji’s National Emergency Operations Centre said Fiji will need: water tanks, water containers, purification tablets, vector control in terms of health, logistics, aerial surveys, among others.

“Our international partners have responded very positively. Australia and New Zealand have indicated that they’re offering their assistance to the people of Fiji. The same goes for the United Nations – they have some prepositioned stock in Fiji that can be deployed in the event that there is a need,” Anthony Blake said.

Cyclone Tomas is being reported as larger than the USA’s Hurricane Katrina that struck New Orleans in 2005. Reports of damage and injuries are being reported. Fiji Police have confirmed one death. Tamarisi Tabua (31) died after being swept away by a sea surge while with her family at Labasa on Vanua Levu.

Fiji’s military regime has also extended a curfew until 5pm (Tuesday). Fiji’s information minister Lt-Col Neumi Leweni said the curfew is in force around Fiji’s central, east, and north areas.

Lt-Col Leweni said the only persons allowed to travel are those directly involved in essential services: “Even these people have to secure official passes from the Police.”

Shop-owners are also directed to close their businesses immediately: “We don’t want to lose any life just because of people’s inability to heed the emergency warnings. It is for this reason that the Police will now arrest those seen on the roads without an official pass,” Leweni said.

Cyclone Tomas’ cloud-filled eye is 48 kilometres in diameter and at 4am Tuesday it was approximately 200 nautical miles northeast of Nadi, Fiji. It is tracking southward. NASA reports cyclone-force winds extend 62 kilometres out from Tomas’ centre, while tropical storm-force winds extend out 240 kilometres, making the storm 480 miles in diameter.

Cyclone Tomas is clearly visible in the centre of this image blasting over the top of Fiji, while a second storm, Cyclone Ului, bares down over the Solomon Islands. Satellite image courtesy of Fiji Meteorological Service.

Radio New Zealand reports that about 10,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centres after powerful Cyclone Tomas continues to batter Fiji. It adds that the director of Fiji’s disaster management centre, Pajiliai Dobui, said communication has been lost on islands including Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Lau, and officials will not know the extent of the damage until Wednesday.

Fiji Tmes reports that the National Emergency Operation Centre is today gearing up for post-disaster operations, with action taken on immediate needs, including freezer units secured through AusAID for temporary morgues.

The New Zealand High Commission in Suva has been closed due to the cyclone and is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday 17 March. Flights into and out of Fiji have been suspended due to the cyclone. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said today travellers with immediate travel plans are advised to contact their airline or travel agent for information on their scheduled flights.

The latest storm warning follows:
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR VANUA BALAVU, CICIA, MOALA, MATUKU,TOTOYA, KABARA, ONO-I-LAU, NAYAU, LAKEBA, AND NEARBY ISLANDS. A STORM WARNING REMAINS FORCE FOR KORO, GAU, BATIKI, NAIRAI AND NEARBY ISLANDS.

Click here for:
• 3News – Fiji Cyclone Tomas Wreaks Havoc Overnight

3News – NZ PM John Key urges Kiwis abroad to stay safe

• The latest advisories and warnings from the Fiji Meteorological Service

Meanwhile, Cyclone Ului is heading south after battering the Solomon Islands and is expected to track downward off Australia’s north-east cost. Weather Bureau forecasters predict Cyclone Ului will turn south today, tracking parallel with the Queensland coast.

The Herald Sun reports that the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre has Cyclone Ului easing and veering towards the coast in an area between Fraser Island and Airlie Beach on Friday.

Background Information:
Hurricanezone.net states that a hurricane (or typhoon, or severe tropical cyclone), is the strongest storm on Earth. They are cyclonic (rotary) storms that derives its energy from cloud formation and rainfall. This is unlike mid-latitude storms that derive their power from a temperature gradient. The strongest hurricanes release energy the equivalant of one 10-megaton nuclear bomb exploding every 20 minutes.