Looking at the situation report from the other areas also under hurricane warning:
Residents in Lakeba in Macuata are now being told to take shelter in the nearby caves.
Lakeba villager Kusima Kulivusu said the village headman made the decision early this morning as they are experiencing heavy rain and strong winds.
Kulivusu said 12 elderly people and children have been taken to the village church to shelter while the other able bodied people have been advised to go to the caves in the hills.
In total 110 villagers are in the church while 130 are expected to take shelter in the caves in case there is flooding later this evening.
In Labasa:
Police are now closely monitoring the water level of the Labasa River as three major rivers which join the main Labasa River are now heavily flooded.
Regional Police Commander Northern SSP Luke Qionibaravi said the Korotari, Vunimoli and Suweni rivers are now flooded as heavy rain continues.
He said they are now waiting for high tide, as this may also increase the water levels in the Labasa river.
The next high tide is at 7.30 tonight.
In Anube, Bulileka just outside Labasa town:
Many have lost their farms and livestock due to flooding.
A resident Chandar said their hard work has gone to waste adding that despite being prepared, 3 families have lost the roofs of their houses.
He also said that flood waters have reached Boubale, Orata and Boca roads and flood waters is rising rapidly.
Vunimoli Secondary school Manager Mohammad Hassan said their school is now open as an evacuation centre and 20 people are now taking shelter.
He also said the Vunimoli Bridge is now under 2 feet flood waters.
Up in Udu Point:
The villagers of Yawasa report that the wind has picked up with ten sheets of the village church roof flying off.
Looking at Wainiika, just near Udu Point:
Close to 10 houses in the village are under about four feet of sea water since this morning after the sea wall was damaged last night.
Village headman Saula Tuiqalau said the church and the village hall which were supposed to be used as the evacuation centre, are also flooded.
The 50 year old said it is the first time he has come across this experience where the sea wall was badly damaged and some trees in the village uprooted by strong winds from last night.
Tuiqalau added that most of the villagers have moved to their relatives in higher ground as they fear it might get worse at night.
In Korotari in Labasa:
The advisory Councilor Om Prakash said that they are now calling for those in low-lying areas and those near the Korotari River to evacuate as the water level continues to rise.
Prakash said it is raining heavily in the three sisters hills.
In Daku, Wainikoro just outside Labasa Town:
The people have started feeling very strong winds and heavy rain.
Advisory Councilor Ram Kewal said he is advising people to move to higher ground as the Wainikoro River has started to flood.
In Taveuni:
Naqara resident Ajesh Kumar said the strength of the wind has picked since this morning however there are no reports of damages and flooding so far.
He added that people have started moving to higher grounds.
Onto the Island of Kioa:
Village Councilor David Taulia said they are having poor visibility as the rainfall has now increased and the winds have picked up.
He said they are also experiencing some flooding.
In Lau:
Just before telephone lines went off, Lakeba villager Mosese said that they are starting to get heavy rain and strong winds as well.
Mosese said that the villagers have already moved to higher ground and secured their houses.
In Tailevu:
Resident of Nabilo in Tailevu Vijay Prasad said they are experiencing strong winds and heavy rain.
Prasad said this is the ideal time for those living in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.
In Savusavu:
A resort in Savusavu has shifted their guests to a secure place as the weather continues to worsen.
Daku Resort staff member Keni Tadulala said the 21 British tourists are now in a secure villa and the other staff members are carrying out precautionary measures.
In Bua:
People in Bua have taken advantage of day light to return to their homes and stack up on more emergency food before returning to the evacuation centres.
Waibunabuna Primary School teacher Davendra Kumar said that following DISMAC=s advice people took advantage of daylight and came back with food and warm clothes.
He said the 30 people in the school left early this morning but are slowly returning as they prepare for the worst tonight as hurricane Tomas nears land.
Tukavesi:
Damages have been reported in Tukavesi in the north.
DISMAC officer Sitiveni Taki said the wind speed has picked up overnight.
He added that from his office, they have noted several houses without roofs and said that once the wind dies down they will visit those affected.
To Gau:
The villages of Batiki in Naigani have also taken the warnings seriously and are now moving uphill.
Village headman Akapusi Delai said they have experienced strong winds since last night and started moving in the last hour.
He added that they are keeping a close watch and listening to the radio for updates.
