Cyclone hits Fiji, thousands evacuated

Cyclone Tomas was classified as a category-four cyclone, the second-most destructive on a five-point scale and packed winds averaging up to 175 kilometres an hour, the Fiji Meteorological Service said.
There were no reports of casualties, though officials said a woman drowned in stormy seas as the cyclone approached.

The cyclone was reported to be generating waves up to 7.2 metres high and ships and boats were warned away from the area. It was expected to intensify early Tuesday, with average wind speeds rising to 200 kilometres an hour.