Over 18,000 Fijians are in evacuation centres as Cyclone Tomas continues to slam its islands with rain and high winds. Officials say there have been more deaths.

A state of disaster has been declared in cyclone-ravaged Fiji by its prime minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

A new group of Fijian islands are in the firing line of Cyclone Tomas' fury this morning.

Emergency services were scrambled after an Air New Zealand flight from Sydney carrying 99 passengers and eight crew was diverted to land at Auckland late last night.

When his wife had a heart attack in the car beside him John Miles ran for help, praying for a miracle.