Cyclone Winston makes landfall and lashes Fiji with 300kph winds Saturday February 20,2016

Tropical cyclone Winston, the category-five storm which has been causing havoc off the coast of Fiji, made landfall earlier this evening - and early reports suggest a man on the island of Koro has died.

 

Fiji radio reported the elderly man was crushed as his house collapsed - he scrambled to escape but was unable to get to safety - this report is yet to be confirmed.

The storm crossed land near Tavua on the northern side of the island
and is expected to travel along the north coast of the island-nation through the night.

The Fijian government has provided a list of 758 evacuation centres across the nation, primarily schools and community centres, that residents should head to if their home becomes unsafe.

Just before 5pm on Saturday  February 20,2016, the National Disaster Management announced a total public curfew for the entirety of Fiji from 6pm, in an effort to restrict movement and improve safety

Authorities also advised members of the public living in low-lying regions in the North to move to higher ground as the cyclone intensifies.