By Khalia Strong - [email protected]

Hundreds of Fijians are taking shelter in evacuation centres and one person is dead as bad weather continues to slam towns and villages. 

The tropical depression 03F was upgraded to a Category 1 cyclone earlier this morning, and 300 people are taking shelter at local evacuation centres in the Western Division, as winds hit speeds of up to 100 kilometres and torrential downpours haven’t stopped since yesterday.

A 35-year-old man from the western town of Tavua was swept away while trying to cross a flooded river.

Fiji MetService manager Stephen Meke says Cyclone Cody is making itself known across the country, but it seems like they are through the worst of it. 

“As of this morning, the system gradually moved southwest away from Fiji, we have also seen the wind easing slowly over the valley of Lautoka area.”

However, Meke expects the rain to continue for at least the next 24 hours. 

“At the moment there are rain bands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, the two main islands, but we should expect it to gradually ease from tomorrow, as the system continues to move away.   

Fiji Red Cross has issued red flag warnings with disaster relief in progress, and schools and vaccination centres are temporarily closed until further notice. 

Authorities have urged residents in the greater Nadi area to stay home and stay away from flooded waters. The warning comes after Fijians were found loitering around flooded waters and causing unnecessary traffic.

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New Zealand may feel some remnants of the storm early next week, with Weather Watch predicting a 60% percent chance of increased currents and swells at North Islands beaches on Tuesday. 

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