Many areas of the Fiji islands had been inundated.
Cyclone Ana has developed into a category 2 storm, with winds gusting up to 140km/h, as it moves onto Fiji's Viti Levu.
The cyclone has dropped to category 1, but the damage is done.
A local man ran with his wife and two kids as the roof was ripped off their house.
24,000 Fijians have been forced into evacuation centres.
"The roar was just insane; it was like a freight train coming."
A 30-day state of natural disaster was declared in Fiji on Thursday.
She made a commitment that such a tragedy wouldn't happen again.
More than 2000 people remain in 55 evacuation centres.
