Cyclone Gita

It's expected to strengthen to a category five today as it moves towards Fiji tonight. The last time a category five cyclone hit the Pacific was in February 2016 when Cyclone Winston killed 44 people in Fiji.

Gita earlier hit the islands of Tongatapu and 'Eua as a category four storm, with winds of up to 230km/h.

A hurricane warning remains in force for Fiji's southern Lau group. Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa are expected to be hit with average wind speeds of up to 195km/h, gusting up to 275km/h, Fiji's Meteorological Service director Ravid Kumar said.

More than 200 people needed emergency shelter.

RNZI reports most businesses have returned back to work today to begin their assessment of the damages to their building as well as cleaning up debris to quickly resume business as usual.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has announced that there have been no reports of any casualties as a result of Tropical Cyclone Gita.

The National Disaster Committee will continue assessing damages this week and will release another report that will include whether there are still any casualties.

Cyclone Gita wrought significant damage in both Samoa and American Samoa.

Niue was spared the full force of Gita when it curved around Niue Saturday night.

The Samoa government announced that schools will be closed for the next few days because of the flood major damage caused by Gita.

RNZI reports health officials have also issued warnings.

The public is being advised to boil all the water and make sure they clean up those areas where mosquitoes can easily lay eggs.

Dengue fever has been an ongoing issue in Samoa for the last few months.

And Weatherwatch.co.nz says that although it's not completely clear if it will affect the country, previous cyclones have been deadly because of dangerous rips and large waves.

The tropical cyclone is due to form around Fiji or Tonga and, according to computer modellings, will intensify as it drifts west, possibly becoming "severe".

It's also claiming that it will "be a much bigger storm than [Cyclone] Fehi", which struck the Pacific last week.