After bulldozing its way through Tonga, Tropical Cyclone Winston made landfall in Fiji’s Lau Islands on Saturday, February 20. Gusts of 315km/h (195mph) are estimated at its centre, with the Fiji Met Service saying the cyclone is expected to “maintain Category 5 intensity as it tracks west, directly over the centre of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu.” The agency also warned of potential heavy rains and a high risk of both flash-flooding and river flooding. This video shows strong winds on Fiji’s Coral Coast. Credit: Facebook/Angie Saladine

After bulldozing its way through Tonga, Tropical Cyclone Winston made landfall in Fiji’s Lau Islands on Saturday, February 20. Gusts of 315km/h (195mph) are estimated at its centre, with the Fiji Met Service saying the cyclone is expected to “maintain Category 5 intensity as it tracks west, directly over the centre of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu.” The agency also warned of potential heavy rains and a high risk of both flash-flooding and river flooding. This video shows strong winds on Fiji’s Coral Coast. Credit: Facebook/Angie Saladine

A MAN has died as a category-five tropical cyclone, the strongest on record in the southern hemisphere, wreaked havoc on Fiji’s main island with hurricane-force winds averaging 325km/h

The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) confirmed an elderly man of Nabasovi, Koro Island, became the first victim of Winston.

DISMAC officer on duty, Vatia Vasuca, told FBC the man died after a roof top fell on him.

Locals, tourists and aid workers are waking to scenes of utter destruction after the cyclone battered the South Pacific nation.

This is a terrifying experience for me. I have never felt so terrified in my life like what I am experiencing now.#TCWinston — Nazeem. M. Kasim (@KasimMNazeem) February 20, 2016

“The scale of the destruction is absolutely massive and it’s still far too early to tell just how many people’s homes and livelihoods have been devastated by this storm,” Australian Red Cross aid worker Susan Slattery told AAP from Suva.

“That will become much clearer over the next 24 hours and our first priority is to make sure people are safe and have the short-term assistance they need.” An official curfew is still in place and all flights in and out of Fiji remain cancelled, but the worst is believed to be over as agencies try to assess the damage.

“At the moment, we’re focused on removing fallen power lines and trees to make sure it’s safe for people to move around,” Ms Slattery said.

“And then it’s moving into finding out whether we need shelter and clean water, and what food and hygiene items are required to keep people healthy.”

UNICEF Pacific aid worker Alice Clements said Suva was spared the full force of the cyclone’s wind blasts, with the storm changing direction at the last minute when it made landfall late on Saturday.

The howling winds and driving rains that lashed the Fijian capital “paled in comparison” to what those in the eye of the storm experienced, she told AAP on Sunday.

Forever grateful to these guys @Spain7s who have out their own safety on the line to help us protect what we can! pic.twitter.com/lSIK57NM3l — Uprising Fiji (@uprisingfiji) February 20, 2016

“We’re incredibly worried about people on outer islands with weaker housing.

“We’ve seen photos of houses that have been completely flattened — there is literally nothing standing.

“These are people who were incredibly vulnerable to start with and now they’ve had potentially everything taken away from them.”

“Some villages have reported that all homes have been destroyed,” Jone Tuiipelehaki of the United Nations Development Program tweeted late on Saturday.

“Fifty homes have been reported destroyed in the Navaga village in Koro Island.”

Power, water and communications services have been cut across much of the country of almost 900,000 people.

The Fijian government has declared a State of Disaster for 30 days beginning on Saturday.

Tropical cyclone Winston, with ferocious gusts of more than 325km/h, hit Fiji’s outer islands yesterday afternoon before moving to on to make landfall on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, home to more than 600,000 people.

The cyclone caused widespread flash flooding and power outages, including in the country’s capital of Suva.

Don't let the darkness and the sound of the wind scare you. Remain focused on your safety and act to ensure it. #TeamFiji #TCWinston — FijiGov RMDNDM (@FijiGov_RMDNDM) February 20, 2016

Things really picking up now! #tcwinston Posted by James Pridgeon on Friday, 19 February 2016

Hundreds of people were evacuated as 758 refuge centres were activated across Fiji when Winston intensified its path on the Pacific island nation.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said 1200 Australians were registered as being in Fiji, with many more expected to currently be there.

#Cyclone #Winston, strongest TC on record in the Southern Hemisphere. Wind gusts to 225 mph: https://t.co/CVOlwv8Czo pic.twitter.com/DZo74caj7R — The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) February 20, 2016

Social media was awash with videos of the tropical cyclone, some showed infrastructure damage.

The Fiji Times said there had been a run on supermarkets and stores as people stocked up on essential supplies.

Hundreds of Australians, including holiday makers and permanent residents, were among those bunkered down.

Flights have been cancelled for Australian holiday makers heading to or returning from Fiji after flying conditions were determined to be too unsafe.

Some boats gone down already Posted by Fiji Tattoo on Friday, 19 February 2016

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement she had contacted her Fijian counterpart to offer Australia’s support and assistance.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Fiji,” Ms Bishop said.

“If Australians have any concerns about friends and family in Fiji, I urge you to attempt to contact them directly first. In the event you are unable to contact them and still hold concerns for their welfare, please contact the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135.”

One Sydney man, 19-year-old Jardyn Turnbull, told News Corp during the storm tensions had been running high at the Sheraton hotel at Denarau in Fiji’s west.

“Everyone’s just scared; the hotel staff are trying to keep people as calm as possible,” he said.

Guests had barricaded their rooms with furniture and towels in case of flooding, but he said their main concern is food.

“None of the shops are open … they’ve closed the restaurants.”

Mr Turnbull arrived in Fiji on Wednesday with his girlfriend and her family for a week-long holiday.

“We just want to get back home,” he said.

Save the Children Australia was among the agencies who had been preparing for the worst outcome.

“We’re extremely concerned about the impact this will have on children, who are particularly vulnerable during emergencies.”

Aussie pastor Bruce Edwards who has lived with his family in Suva for the last three years said he feared for thousands of residents living in squatter settlements.

“We are fortunate to live in an apartment with access to a generator, water and other supplies,” he said.

“My concerns are with those who live in squatter settlements and have no protection.”

Very rough winds in Taveuni at 9.20am Saturday 20 February 2016. I think it will get worse than this. Posted by Delailovu Vat on Friday, 19 February 2016

Winston had been moving around the South Pacific for a week, skirting around Vanuatu and Tonga and had previously taken aim at Fiji before veering away.