<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-2000-evacuated-one-missing-as-scary-cyclone-hammers-fiji-270741">Tropical Cyclone Sarai</a> was moving slowly away from Fiji on Sunday, leaving two people dead and more than 2,500 needing emergency shelter.

The cyclone damaged houses, crops and trees, cut power and forced the cancellation of several international flights, stranding holidaymakers visiting the island nation, which is a major tourist draw.

National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said an 18-year-old student drowned off the island of Kadavu.

"The man is believed to have been swept away by strong currents when he was swimming with his friends," she said.

The body of a man in his 40s was found on Sunday off the coast of the main island Viti Levu a day after he was swept away by strong currents when crossing a river.

Another person was in intensive care in hospital after being hit by a falling tree.

Soko said that at the height of the storm, there were 2,538 people packed into 70 evacuation centres although by Sunday evening 500 had been cleared to return home.

Electricity was restored to 80 percent of the capital Suva but power company Energy Fiji Limited said it could take a week to restore supplies to all areas of Viti Levu.

Sarai, maintaining winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour),&nbsp;was tracking east and was expected to pass over Tonga on New Year's Eve.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai was moving slowly away from Fiji on Sunday, leaving two people dead and more than 2,500 needing emergency shelter. The cyclone damaged houses, crops and trees, cut power and forced the cancellation of several international flights, stranding holidaymakers visiting the island nation, which is a major tourist draw.

Tropical Cyclone Sarai was moving slowly away from Fiji on Sunday, leaving two people dead and more than 2,500 needing emergency shelter. The cyclone damaged houses, crops and trees, cut power and forced the cancellation of several international flights, stranding holidaymakers visiting the island nation, which is a major tourist draw. National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said an 18-year-old student drowned off the island of Kadavu. "The man is believed to have been swept away by strong currents when he was swimming with his friends," she said. The body of a man in his 40s was found on Sunday off the coast of the main island Viti Levu a day after he was swept away by strong currents when crossing a river. Another person was in intensive care in hospital after being hit by a falling tree. Soko said that at the height of the storm, there were 2,538 people packed into 70 evacuation centres although by Sunday evening 500 had been cleared to return home. Electricity was restored to 80 percent of the capital Suva but power company Energy Fiji Limited said it could take a week to restore supplies to all areas of Viti Levu. Sarai, maintaining winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour), was tracking east and was expected to pass over Tonga on New Year's Eve.

Two dead, 2,500 seek emergency shelter in cyclone-battered Fiji

Nearly&nbsp;2,000&nbsp;people took refuge in emergency shelters and one man was&nbsp;missing&nbsp;after being swept away in floodwaters as Tropical&nbsp;Cyclone&nbsp;Sarai pounded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strong-undersea-quake-off-fiji-but-no-tsunami-178123">Fiji</a>&nbsp;on Saturday causing widespread damage.

National Disaster Management Office Director Vasiti Soko urged locals and the thousands of tourists in&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;not to be reckless as Sarai lashed the Pacific island nation with heavy rain and destructive winds.

With wind gusts strengthening to 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour during the day, Sarai destroyed houses and crops, brought down trees, cut power and caused considerable flooding in low-lying areas.

Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded with flights to and from&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;either cancelled or rescheduled.

New Zealander Melonie Sheppard, who was holidaying on Mana Island to the west of mainland&nbsp;Fiji, described the situation as "scary" and said their resort was in lockdown.&nbsp;

"We're being hammered by intense winds and horizontal rains. The resort is providing packed meals and water direct to rooms when they can," she told the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-police-suspend-search-for-two-missing-in-deadly-eruption-269901">New Zealand</a> Herald.&nbsp;

"Wind is howling and tree debris flying about, doors and windows shaking, huge waves rolling into shore. Water now leaking into some rooms -- it's a bit&nbsp;scary&nbsp;at times."

The&nbsp;Fiji&nbsp;government issued a statement warning of "destructive force winds with... coastal sea flooding to be expected."

The National Disaster Management Office said as of mid-morning on Saturday, 1,970 people had sought emergency shelter and there had been no reports of any injuries.

However, there were fears for the safety of a man swept away as he tried to cross a flooded river while another man, reported&nbsp;missing&nbsp;at sea, was rescued in his fibreglass dinghy by police.

Acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said it was disappointing that some people had disregarded the weather warnings.

"People themselves are irresponsible... we issued a warning prior to the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;through the relevant authorities, yet people saw it fit for themselves during the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;to take such irresponsible actions," he said.

On its present track, the&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;is forecast to pass adjacent to&nbsp;Fiji's main island Viti Levu, then across&nbsp;Fiji's southern islands before heading towards Tonga, which has activated its tropical&nbsp;cyclone&nbsp;warning centre with the storm expected to arrive late Sunday.

Nearly 2,000 people took refuge in emergency shelters and one man was missing after being swept away in floodwaters as Tropical Cyclone Sarai pounded Fiji on Saturday causing widespread damage.

Nearly 2,000 people took refuge in emergency shelters and one man was missing after being swept away in floodwaters as Tropical Cyclone Sarai pounded Fiji on Saturday causing widespread damage. National Disaster Management Office Director Vasiti Soko urged locals and the thousands of tourists in Fiji not to be reckless as Sarai lashed the Pacific island nation with heavy rain and destructive winds. With wind gusts strengthening to 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour during the day, Sarai destroyed houses and crops, brought down trees, cut power and caused considerable flooding in low-lying areas. Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded with flights to and from Fiji either cancelled or rescheduled. New Zealander Melonie Sheppard, who was holidaying on Mana Island to the west of mainland Fiji, described the situation as "scary" and said their resort was in lockdown. "We're being hammered by intense winds and horizontal rains. The resort is providing packed meals and water direct to rooms when they can," she told the New Zealand Herald. "Wind is howling and tree debris flying about, doors and windows shaking, huge waves rolling into shore. Water now leaking into some rooms -- it's a bit scary at times." The Fiji government issued a statement warning of "destructive force winds with... coastal sea flooding to be expected." The National Disaster Management Office said as of mid-morning on Saturday, 1,970 people had sought emergency shelter and there had been no reports of any injuries. However, there were fears for the safety of a man swept away as he tried to cross a flooded river while another man, reported missing at sea, was rescued in his fibreglass dinghy by police. Acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said it was disappointing that some people had disregarded the weather warnings. "People themselves are irresponsible... we issued a warning prior to the cyclone through the relevant authorities, yet people saw it fit for themselves during the cyclone to take such irresponsible actions," he said. On its present track, the cyclone is forecast to pass adjacent to Fiji's main island Viti Levu, then across Fiji's southern islands before heading towards Tonga, which has activated its tropical cyclone warning centre with the storm expected to arrive late Sunday.

Nearly 2,000 evacuated, one missing as 'scary' cyclone hammers Fiji

Hundreds of people were sheltering in evacuation centres as another tropical storm took aim at Fiji, officials said Saturday, as the South Pacific island nation went on high alert.

The storm was brewing east of Vanuatu and was expected to strengthen as it neared Fiji early next week.

"The concern for the weekend is strong winds, heavy rain, flooding of low lying areas and rivers," the Fiji Meteorological Service said in a statement.

It comes a week after Cyclone Josie caused widespread flooding and left five people dead with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama blaming climate change and warning Fiji had entered a "frightening new era".

National Disaster Management Office director Anare Leweniqila told Radio New Zealand the weather system has the potential to develop into a category one cyclone.

"A cyclone warning has been issued early for the whole of the Fiji group as the tropical depression approaches the country, making people aware of the situation early," he said as heavy rain saw flood waters begin to rise again.

By noon Saturday (0000 GMT), flooding had forced hundreds of people to take shelter in evacuation centres in the north and west of Fiji.

"At about 6 am this morning, our area was flooded and we started preparing ourselves because police had arrived to take us to the evacuation centre," Laisa Vunitiko, from the village of Vulovi on Vanua Levu island, told the Fiji Times.

The Times said 490 families had taken shelter in the north while the National Disaster Management Office reported 192 people were in evacuation centres in the west.

Hundreds of people were sheltering in evacuation centres as another tropical storm took aim at Fiji, officials said Saturday, as the South Pacific island nation went on high alert

Hundreds of people were sheltering in evacuation centres as another tropical storm took aim at Fiji, officials said Saturday, as the South Pacific island nation went on high alert. The storm was brewing east of Vanuatu and was expected to strengthen as it neared Fiji early next week. "The concern for the weekend is strong winds, heavy rain, flooding of low lying areas and rivers," the Fiji Meteorological Service said in a statement. It comes a week after Cyclone Josie caused widespread flooding and left five people dead with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama blaming climate change and warning Fiji had entered a "frightening new era". National Disaster Management Office director Anare Leweniqila told Radio New Zealand the weather system has the potential to develop into a category one cyclone. "A cyclone warning has been issued early for the whole of the Fiji group as the tropical depression approaches the country, making people aware of the situation early," he said as heavy rain saw flood waters begin to rise again. By noon Saturday (0000 GMT), flooding had forced hundreds of people to take shelter in evacuation centres in the north and west of Fiji. "At about 6 am this morning, our area was flooded and we started preparing ourselves because police had arrived to take us to the evacuation centre," Laisa Vunitiko, from the village of Vulovi on Vanua Levu island, told the Fiji Times. The Times said 490 families had taken shelter in the north while the National Disaster Management Office reported 192 people were in evacuation centres in the west.

Hundreds take shelter as Fiji braces for another cyclone

Cyclone Josie caused severe flooding in the South Pacific island nation, killing at least four people and leaving another missing, local media reported.

Five people were washed away and "police have retrieved four bodies," police director of operations Livai Driu told the Fiji Village website.&nbsp;

The search was continuing for a missing 19-year-old man.&nbsp;

The National Disaster Management office said more than 1,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centres while heavy rain and strong wind warnings remained in place for Monday.

Much of the main tourist town of Nadi was underwater as Josie, with wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph) caused widespread flooding before moving away from the island group.

Photos and videos posted on social media showed cars and buildings engulfed in floodwaters.

"Nadi town and some villages are all drown," said one message.

"The cyclone has already killed five people. So many people have been left without basic needs," read another.

The National Disaster Management office said more than 1,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centres while heavy rain and strong wind warnings remained in place for Monday

Cyclone Josie caused severe flooding in the South Pacific island nation, killing at least four people and leaving another missing, local media reported. Five people were washed away and "police have retrieved four bodies," police director of operations Livai Driu told the Fiji Village website. The search was continuing for a missing 19-year-old man. The National Disaster Management office said more than 1,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centres while heavy rain and strong wind warnings remained in place for Monday. Much of the main tourist town of Nadi was underwater as Josie, with wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph) caused widespread flooding before moving away from the island group. Photos and videos posted on social media showed cars and buildings engulfed in floodwaters. "Nadi town and some villages are all drown," said one message. "The cyclone has already killed five people. So many people have been left without basic needs," read another.

At least four dead as Cyclone Josie batters Fiji

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Two dead, 2,500 seek emergency shelter in cyclone-battered Fiji

Nearly 2,000 evacuated, one missing as 'scary' cyclone hammers Fiji

Hundreds take shelter as Fiji braces for another cyclone

At least four dead as Cyclone Josie batters Fiji