March 15, 2010 10:30 AM

Curfew Lifted But Schools Remain Closed As Fiji Prepares For Cyclone Tomas

WELLINGTON, March 15 (Bernama)-- A curfew was lifted but schools remain closed in Fiji as the Pacific island groups prepare for a Category 4 cyclone, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Fiji's weather service said on Monday that Cyclone Tomas intensified overnight and was expected to hit the north-eastern part of Vanua Levu on Monday morning.

The curfew was issued at midnight on Sunday and supermarkets were open till late to allow people to prepare emergency supplies.

A spokesperson for the Fiji weather service told Radio New Zealand that wind speeds were about 175 km/h about 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday (18:30 GMT Sunday) and could intensify.

A number of evacuation center have been set up throughout Fiji with one on the small eastern island of Taveuni, north of Vanua Levu, packed with more than 1000 people.

The Fiji Disaster Management Office said it has had almost three days to prepare.

-- BERNAMA