Tourists stranded as Cyclone Evan strikes Fiji

Cyclone Evan has struck Fiji, the chain of islands in the South Pacific, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Before winds of 215 kilometres per hour hit the main island of Viti Levu, more than 3,500 people were moved to emergency shelters.

Fiji’s weather bureau said the speed that the category four storm was moving meant that destructive winds could last several hours.

Power supplies were cut to many areas and the airport was shut, leaving nearly 2,000 tourists stranded.

Australia and New Zealand have put search and rescue personnel on standby.

On Friday, four people were killed and thousands of homes were destroyed when Hurricane Evan hit nearby Samoa.

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