Tornadoes do happen in Fiji and regional records show events as far back as the 1960s, but they are a rare occurrence, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) Director Misaele Funaki says. His comments stem from reports that a tornado had swept through parts of Nakasi and Nausori early this morning causing injury to three people and significant damage to buildings including homes, uprooted trees, displaced residents and injured two people. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States of America where the majority of the world’s tornados occur, this weather phenomenon is the most violent of all atmospheric storms. While they commonly occur in other parts of the world, records from the NOAA and the regional geoscience agency SOPAC (now a part of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community) say they’ve occurred in Fiji as far back as the 1960s. However, since 2016 there have been reports every year of tornadoes in Fiji, albeit small occurrences which did not cause damage. READ MORE

VITI Levu is now under restricted movement orders as Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Harold bears down on three divisions of Fiji. Only emergency Services are allowed on the road to reduce the risk of casualties. Director National Disaster Management Office Vasiti Soko said the government has had discussions this morning around the possibility of a state of emergency. "It is a question we have also been discussing. To declare a state of emergencies there are triggers that we need to meet. Unless we meet all the requirements to declare a state of emergency then we will,” Ms Soko said. "Triggers are Lives of people are at risk, when the economy can no longer cope and with lots f threat to people’s lives. But, that is one of the agendas that is being discussed. As we speak, we are coping, we are asking the general public to stay home so that we can do our job." READ MORE

STORE enough drinking water to last up to three days as the Water Authority of Fiji expects heavy rain to disrupt supply. There are specific areas which are highly likely to lose water supply. READ MORE

Two people in self-isolation in Lautoka were among 51 arrests made by Fijian authorities in the last 24 hours. READ MOR