Cyclone Gita devastation

The cyclone caused widespread flooding, water damage and power outages.

The agency's general secretary Namulauulu Tautala Mauala said hygiene kits were a priority as the cleanup continues.

She said they the Red Cross had been appealing to the business community to help with the provision of emergency hygiene supplies such as toilet paper, soap, towels, hand sanitiser, female sanitary needs and clothing.

Fiji's MetService said the category four storm was very close to being upgraded to the highest category, five.

It had already washed out building and equipment of Tonga's met office, and Fiji weather forecasters took over issuing warnings for the region from shortly before midnight.

The storm was expected to be upgraded to a category five in the early hours of the morning.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre earlier said it was hitting maximum sustained winds estimated at 233km/h.

The cyclone tore through the country bringing damaging winds and torrential rain but is now moving away to the east.

Ulu Bismarck Crawley, from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said the entire country has been affected, but worst hit are the north coast and riverways prone to flooding.

He said there were no reports of injury or death but emergency services were focusing on people isolated by the effects of the storm.