WATCH the view from a hotel room on Denarau Island in Fiji as Brisbane couple Joanne Foster and Brendon Taylor wait for the cyclone to hit
CYCLONE Evan has battered the South Pacific island state of Fiji with 200km/h winds, cutting power and water supplies in the northern region.
Thousands of people took refuge in evacuation centres and airlines suspended flights in and out of the country.
The military government warned that Evan could be the most destructive cyclone since 1993 to hit the island, one of the Pacific's biggest tourist centres.
Fiji government spokeswoman Sharon Smith-Johns says the cyclone was moving towards Nadi and had intensified a little, with winds of up to 200km/h.
Ms Smith-Johns said 3500 people are sheltering in evacuation centres after people had earlier been warned to prepare for the worst.
Heavy thunder and rain as Fiji battens down in preparation for the cyclone. Pictures: Joanne Foster from her hotel room on Denarau Island, Fiji
"We've had a week to prepare for this, so we're as prepared as you can be," she told Radio New Zealand.
"The extent of the damage, I don't think we're going to know until tomorrow morning when we wake up and see how badly it has hit."
Fiji's second-biggest city Lautoka, near the closed international airport at Nadi, was severely battered by the cyclone, with resident Janet Mason telling RNZ that an empty house had "flown through the air" and landed beside hers.
Heavy thunder and rain as Fiji battens down in preparation for the cyclone. Pictures: Joanne Foster from her hotel room on Denarau Island, Fiji
The bulk carrier ship Starford, believed to be carrying equipment for a Chinese firm constructing a highway, dragged its anchor and was pushed on to the reef in Suva Harbour, the Fiji Times reported.
Meanwhile, New Zealand searchers looking for 10 fishermen missing off Samoa since the cyclone hit the island nation believe they have found one of four missing boats.
The upturned fishing boat hull is being towed to Apia by a Samoan police launch after being found by a New Zealand Air Force Orion searching for the fishermen.
Four people have already died and more casualties are feared, as damage to the Samoan island of Upolu appeared to be worse than from a 2009 earthquake and tsunami that killed 135 people, according to aerial surveillance, a spokeswoman for the prime minister told RNZ.
Cyclone Evan has ripped through Fiji with flooding and structural damage.
New Zealand Red Cross has deployed a specialist team and an emergency grant of $NZ10,000 ($A8,098) to help deal with the damage.
Air NZ is allowing all passengers flying from Auckland to Apia between December 17 and December 30 to take one extra piece of checked luggage, up to 23kg, free of charge.
An Australian in lockdown at a hotel on Denarau Island, in Fiji's west, has told of the wait for the worst of Cyclone Evan to hit.
Fiji residents have been evacuated as category four tropical cyclone Evan hits the Pacific islands.
Joanne Foster, who is holidaying in Fiji with partner Brendon Taylor, said the hotel had sandbagged along the seafront and warned guests to stay in their rooms.
"I would like the sandbagging to be a little bit higher than it is, but they can't be that concerned," said Ms Foster, of Brisbane.
"We are OK at the moment, it's just like a normal storm in Brisbane, but it's starting to pick up.
"It's mainly wind and rain. The hotel is fairly confident we will be OK, it's one of the more modern hotels. They are a little bit concerned about a storm surge on the ground floor."
She said there was no television reception in their room and radio was intermittent, but they were still able to use the internet.
The couple arrived in Fiji on Saturday for a well-needed break, only to fly into a storm.
"We have essentially come to Fiji for a cyclone, we leave on Thursday," she said.
"It's supposed to get worse here by the afternoon so the hotel is waiting to see if they will serve dinner in the ballroom or bring food to our rooms."
At the Sofitel on Denarau Island, all guests have been evacuated into the ballroom with bedding.
Erica Greg, of Brisbane, said they were told it was the only safe refuge in the hotel.
"People have made up beds and are making themselves comfortable, playing cards and singing," she said.
"No one is allowed to stay in their rooms. I was worried before but I feel safe now."
While the break is far from ideal for these Australians, they are faring better than most with power outages and flooding reported on the main island of Viti Levu.
Thousands of people have fled to evacuation centres in Fiji as authorities warn to "prepare for the worst'' from the powerful category four cyclone.
Earlier, Australian Schoolie revellers were evacuated as a potentially catastrophic cyclone closes in on the island nation.
Unleashed Travel, which organises school leavers' trips to the tropical paradise, announced on its Facebook page the last of its Schoolies guests had secured flights out of Nadi Airport after 6pm yesterday.
"We can now confirm that all schoolies are on a flight out of Fiji. Thanks for everyone's patience and understand in these trying times,'' the Facebook post reads.
Relieved parents took to the social media website to thank the travel company for organising the swift exit.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said a mass SMS was sent to 2100 Australians registered in Fiji advising them follow advice from local authorities.
"High Commission staff are also in contact with island resorts where Australians are likely to be and have indicated that those resorts are evacuating guests to the mainland in advance of the stormfront.
"Those travelling to or from Fiji should check with airlines first to ensure that flights are still operational,'' the spokesperson said in a statement.
Australia has pledged to assist the Fijian Government if required.
At least four people were killed by Cyclone Evan after it smashed through Samoa, leaving a path of destruction on the Pacific island nation.
Budget airline Jetstar has cancelled its flights to and from Fiji.
"Safety remains Jetstar's number one priority. We will continue to monitor the activity of Cyclone Evan to assess its impact on flight operations and provide further updates as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience,'' a statement on the airline's Facebook page said.
The New Zealand Air Force will continue its search for eight fishermen missing off Samoa after Cyclone Evan hit, as people in Fiji brace themselves for the severe storm.
Four people died and eight fishermen from three boats are still missing after the cyclone ripped through Samoa last week.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand says the P3 Orion and French Navy will continue to search for the men today.
"Damaging" swells will hit some northern coastal areas and flooding is expected, it says.
At the centre of the cyclone winds are reaching 170km/h with gusts of more than 230km/h.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is urging Aussies to stay alert and informed.
''We encourage Australians in Fiji to follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor the media for the latest developments,'' DFAT said in its latest travel advice.
It also urged them to review and follow hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans.
''You should carry your travel documents at all times or secure them in a safe, waterproof location,'' it said.
''We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts.''
The government is urging people worried about loved ones in Fiji to contact the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135.
The Fijian government fear it could prove as devastating as Cyclone Kina, which killed 23 people and left thousands homeless in 1993.
Fiji's military leader Frank Bainimarama warned the storm is an ''impending disaster'' as his government moved to open more than 200 evacuation centres.
After crossing Samoa, Evan intensified as it ploughed through the Pacific and forecasters said destructive winds could reach nearly 300km/h by the time it hits Fiji early Monday.
Government officials fear it could be as devastating as Cyclone Kina, which killed 23 people and left thousands homeless in 1993.
Tourists in luxury resorts on outlying islands were being ferried to the mainland, while Fiji's main airline, Air Pacific, said it had either cancelled or rescheduled its Monday flights.
Philip Duncan, head analyst with the WeatherWatch.co.nz meteorological service, said Fiji could expect to be walloped by the storm, with the prospect of flash flooding and mudslides.
"Gusts may end up climbing to 280km/ per hour or greater around the centre of Evan," Duncan said.
"Some small, low-lying communities and resorts may suffer catastrophic damage and some small islands may be entirely submerged as the storm and storm surge roll by."
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said Canberra was offering financial aid as well as expert personnel and supplies.
"We're going to work with other nations including New Zealand and France, in doing what we can to save lives, and support search and rescue," he said.
Meanwhile, it could be some days before the full extent of the cyclone damage in Samoa is known because of the difficulty reaching outlying islands.
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