Cyclone Winston Hits Fiji as Category Five Storm

A powerful storm has made landfall on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

Cyclone Winston – a category five storm – brought winds of over 200 mph, torrential rain and waves of up to 40ft.

Flights have been canceled, evacuation centers activated and a nationwide curfew put in place.

The storm is expected to move westwards over the main island overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning.

Before it landed, PM Frank Bainimarama warned that Fiji was facing “an ordeal of the most grievous kind”.

“We must stick together as a people and look after each other. Be alert and be prepared,” he said.

Cyclone Winston has already brushed some of Fiji’s smaller islands, but the extent of the damage is unclear.

Assessment teams are being sent to the affected areas, the Fiji Times reported.

The Fijian capital Suva is likely to be spared the full forces of the storm but tourist resorts are close to the cyclone’s centre. About 900,000 people live on Fiji.