KEY POINTS:
A strengthening tropical cyclone is expected to hit Fiji's capital, Suva, tonight and forecasters have warned of widespread flooding and damage.
People in low lying areas have been urged to consider evacuating, as category one Cyclone Daman approaches with wind speeds of 100-155kph.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall in Fiji's northeast about 9pm tonight (10pm NZ time) and hit Suva by midnight.
"If it follows the path it is on we fear the worst. It would be closely following the path of Cyclone Kina in 1992 and 1993. That was really devastating," Fiji's principal disaster management officer Pajiliai Doaui said.
"It would hit the most populated part of Fiji, and the major river systems."
Doaui said people in low lying areas would need to make the decision to evacuate before nightfall.
"If they think it is going to get worse they have to move before the night. Moving at night is very dangerous. Moving when the waters are high is very dangerous," he said.
Daman is currently about 60 kilometres from Fiji's Yasawa Islands, where there are a number of tourist resorts, he said.
- AAP
