The Regional Tsunami Warning in effect has been moved to high from moderate.
This has been confirmed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.
Acting director National Disaster Management Office Pajiliai Dobui said this change means a high wave will be generated.
The prediction has been made and Dobui said a tsunami can be generated any time now as its arrival was estimated at 11:40am.
Dobui said the waves can generate after a few hours and that is the reason for the tsunami warning to be upgraded from moderate to high.
We are at the impact point and people need to take precautions now.
Education Ministry orders schools closure
The Education Ministry has issued a notice that all schools particularly in low lying areas, coastal areas, outer islands and the western side should now close and principals and head-teachers must organize the disbursement of school children to their homes and must see that they are moved to higher ground.
The Ministry advises that teachers, principals and head-teachers and students must ensure that no student is loitering around coastal areas.
Samabula Primary School has advised parents to pick their school children up from school now.
DISMAC orders evacuation of guests
The Disaster Management Committee, DISMAC, has issued a directive to all the hotels owners in coastal areas to evacuate their guests to higher ground as soon as possible.
Director DISMAC Pajiliai Dobui said they have also warned all the schools in the coastal areas to close as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, officials at the Yasawa Island Resort have confirmed that they are communicating with the guests to take necessary precaution to take them to higher grounds.
Govt officers told to vacate offices
All government officers in low lying areas are to vacate their offices and move to high ground until proper clearance is given by the DISMAC office.
This is from the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Commission, Parmesh Chand.
Savusavu residents urged move to higher ground
Police in Savusavu are now urging residents in the town area to start moving to higher ground.
Meanwhile, a resident living along the coastal area Semi Tabucala is currently taking advice and is moving his family to higher ground.
Meanwhile, his daughter Loloma said that schools and business houses are now closing with people moving to higher ground.
Meanwhile, Fiji Bus Operators Association president Zain Dean said that those schools who want to evacuate their students now are to call the respective bus companies so that arrangements can be made.
Resorts move guests to higher ground
The Turtle Island Resort in the Yasawas has started moving their guests up to higher mountains.
Resort staff said that they currently have 26 couples and they are all moving.
Some were out snorkeling and had to be brought in by the resort boat.
Staff Ruth Tabucala said that the tide is going out and they are all taking tinned stuff and bottled water.
Viwa Island Resort in the Yasawa group has moved its guests to higher ground after the tsunami warning was issued this morning.
Mereani Ilisevaseva said all of the 20 guests in the resort plus the 3 villages of Natia, Viwa and Naibalebale have moved to higher ground.
He also confirmed that the students of Viwa District School are also with the guests and the villagers.
Guests from Oarsman Bay Resort in the Yasawas are right now moving to high ground up the mountains following this Tsunami warning.
Manasa Naikasowalu from the resort said they are taking all necessary precautions this time.
The Naviti Resort have moved around 600 guests to high ground.
Vivi Bale confirmed that they are all on high ground right now.
Kioa evacuates villagers
Kioa Island just off the coast off Taveuni in the north has started evacuation of close to 500 villagers.
Villager David Taulia said they have just been warned by family members in Labasa and are moving.
Meanwhile, in Vatulele Island just off Beqa, the villagers are unaware and are right now rushing to high ground.
