Teenager drowns in Fiji as Cyclone Sarai bashes island nation

The cyclone continues to batter Fiji.
The cyclone continues to batter Fiji. Photo credit: Newshub.

An 18-year-old has drowned in Fiji as the island nation is battered by tropical cyclone Sarai.

The student who remains unnamed was swimming with his friends in the Baidamudamu waters in Kadavu when he was swept away by strong currents on Saturday.

The cyclone continues to batter Fiji, with gale-force winds, heavy rain and large waves causing power outages and flooding across the country.

The storm which hit Nadi on Saturday morning has since been upgraded to a category 2 system.

On Saturday Fiji's MetService said the storm was on track to reach Kadavu Island later that day.

Police are pleading with the public to be vigilant at all times to avoid a similar incident.

The Fiji Met Office has said the Tropical Cyclone Sarai is located at 135km South South West of Kadavu.

Wind speed is 70 km per hour gusting to 100 km per hour and is moving to a southeasterly direction.

Currently there is one casualty in Kadavu.

A person is still missing in Vunidawa, Naitasiri while one remains in ICU at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva after sustaining injury from a fallen tree at Cunningham.

A flood warning” has also been issued and remains in force for low lying areas.

As of Sunday morning, there are 70 evacuation centres set up, with about 2538 people evacuated.

The cyclone has affected flight passengers and tourists currently staying in Fiji.

Air New Zealand cancelled two flights to and from Nadi on Saturday morning and said it anticipates more disruption over the coming days.

There are no refunds for fares or cover for incidental costs.

House of Travel commercial director Brent Thomas said travellers' changes will depend on the cyclone.

"These cyclones can be extremely dangerous and people need to adhere to what the authorities are saying," he said.

Cyclone Sarai has also left Kiwi tourists stranded as flights are grounded and some say they're now being charged $800 a night to stay. 

"We can't get a flight out until the 3rd of January, it's devastating really," said one Kiwi tourist.

While Fiji continues to grapple with the storm, a New Zealand MetService forecaster says the cyclone may reach Tonga next.

"We're expecting storm- to gale-force winds to affect much of the southern island groups and some of the main islands of Fiji. In a few days' time, the system is heading towards Tonga," Matthew Ford said.