Fiji's Tropical Cyclone Center reported winds of up to 130 mph (205 kph) at its center and gusts of up to 175 mph (280 kph). Sea surges of up to 23 feet (7 meters) were reported in the Lau island group, which was hit head-on by the cyclone.
Cyclone Tomas continued to blast through the northern Lau and Lomaiviti island groups and the northern coast of Vanua Levu on Tuesday, the nation's weather office said. Sea surges in the Lau island group will take at least 36 hours to subside.
The capital, Suva on the main island of Viti Levu, was lashed by high winds and rains, and the government extended a nationwide curfew to Wednesday morning to keep people in their homes. Flights resumed on Tuesday into the main international airport at Nadi, on Viti Levu.
As the storm lost strength as it moved out to sea Wednesday, relief operations were launched in the country's northern regions. Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Fiji's prime minister and military chief, says Fiji has sent patrol boats with supplies, troops and support staff while Australia and New Zealand air force planes are airlifting emergency supplies. A state of emergency will remain in effect for 30 days in the country's northern and eastern divisions.
Fiji's National Disaster Management Office reports that the cyclone caused more than 17,000 people to flee to 240 government shelters. Only one storm-related death has been reported so far. Initial reports from the Fiji Broadcasting Corp. indicate power, water, sewage and communications were still disrupted in many northern areas, but a key airport at Labasa in northern Vanua Levu had reopened for emergency supply flights.
The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined as communications to the offshore islands remain out of all contact. In the hardest hit areas, there are reports major flooding, damage to entire villages with many houses losing their roofs or being completely blown away, large trees uprooted, roads blocked by coral and rocks thrown up by the storm surge, landing jetties severely damaged and local boats washed away. Australia and New Zealand air force planes continue to carry out surveillance to make further damage assessments of the northern islands and northern Vanua Levu.
There were no immediate reports of tourists being caught in the cyclone.
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