Fierce cyclones menace Pacific

Thousands of people were last night bracing themselves for a king-hit from two devastatingly powerful cyclones roaring across the Pacific.

• Tense wait as storm pounds Fiji

Category four storm Cyclone Tomas was bearing down on Fiji, bringing with it winds averaging as much as 175kmh, as the even stronger Cyclone Ului threatened both the Solomon Islands and Queensland.

Ului is a category five storm (the most powerful rating) and both are larger than Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans and other areas of the southern United States in 2005.

Although Tomas was not expected to hit the main islands in Fiji, authorities confirmed emergency morgues would be set up as the brunt of the storm looked set to strike northern islands in the group, including Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

The eye of the storm was expected to pass over northern Fiji about midnight (NZ time) last night.

More than 5000 people in Vanua Levu were reported to be sheltering in disaster centres.

On Taveuni, doctors and nurses were rushing to evacuate 18 patients from the hospital after part of the roof was torn away, Fiji Times reported.

The first victim of the cyclone, Tamarisi Tabua, was last night being hailed a hero.

Ms Tabua was with her sisters Mereula and Alanieta Evans, nephew Mesake (10) and niece Fulori (4) when waves swept them into Namilamila Bay in Ucunivatu, Cakaudrove on Vanua Levu, on Saturday.

Alanieta, a former national netballer on holiday from England, said they would have died had it not been for her sister, who sacrificed her own life to save other family members.

Staff at Nukubati Island Resort - on the Vanua Levu islands - last night closed the hotel and were taking refuge in a room at the back of the resort's strongest building.

Staff member Asena Steiner said the noise created by the high winds was indescribable and the sound of debris crashing around outside terrified them.

Evacuation warnings first issued on Friday had seen hundreds rush to stock up on essentials such as food and water, batteries, candles and matches, she said.

Many boarded up their homes and headed to robust buildings - such as schools and community centres - expected to be able to stand up to the cyclone.

Netani Rika, of Fiji Times, said from Suva the northern parts of the country had been hit hardest, while areas around the capital were yet to feel the full effects.

"At least 14 homes destroyed - blown down by the wind or destroyed when trees fell on them," he said.

The island of Cikobia, northeast of Vanua Levu, had been battered, flooding was expected there and great damage was reported before all communications were lost.

Cyclone Tomas was last night expected to move south from the top of Fiji, while Cyclone Ului was expected to move towards Australia.

Last night, the New Zealand Government was urging its citizens in Fiji to register themselves with the High Commission in Suva.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday said about 450 New Zealanders were registered so far, but there were likely to be others who had yet to do so.

"The advice to New Zealanders in relation to Cyclone Tomas is that they should register and follow instructions issued by local authorities," he said.