Tonga’s tropical cyclone centre has been activated as Cyclone Gita makes its way towards the kingdom, with fears it could develop into a category four storm.
People have been advised to secure their property, move away from low-lying areas and to listen to the radio for information.
The Fiji Met service has just issued a tropical cyclone alert for the Ono-I-Lau group.
Niue was spared the full force of Tropical Cyclone Gita on Saturday night but the Category 3 cyclone is heading towards Tonga and picking up strength.
The acting chief meteorologist at Tonga Met service, Gary Vite, said category three Gita could become a four by the time it reached the kingdom.
“And the possibility is very high to intensify along the way up to our area, so we expect up to Category 4 but we still monitoring the movement and strength.”
Mr Vite said a hurricane warning remained in force for Vava’u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
The Met Service said close to its centre, the cyclone was expected to have average wind of 129 kph, possibly increasing to 148 kph.
Cyclone Gita is moving south about 22 kph and expected to gradually turn and move southwest today.
From today (Monday), people should expect very destructive hurricane force wind. The Red Cross in Tonga is advising the public to be prepared as Cyclone Gita approaches.
Meanwhile, the clean up is continuing in the two Samoas after Tropical Cyclone Gita hit on Saturday morning.
There was extensive flooding, rivers burst banks and houses were flooded. More than 200 people in Samoa needed emergency shelter.
A state of disaster was declared. In American Samoa the governor, Lolo Matalasi Maliga, said there was a lot of damage to homes and utilities.
Power and phones were taken down, and schools and businesses ordered to shut down.
While Gita was upgraded to Category 3 as it threatened Niue late last night, a sudden change of direction, lifted the threat and there have been no reports of significant damage.
