Residents of the Pacific island of Niue are bracing for tropical cyclone Heta.
The category five cyclone with wind gusts of nearly 200-kilometres an hour at its centre is rapidly approaching the island after yesterday hitting Samoa.
The national disaster council in Samoa is trying to get power restored following the cyclone which unroofed houses, uprooted tress and disrupted communications.
Communications with Niue have been disrupted after satellite links were stowed because of the cyclone.
Meteorologists tracking cyclone Heta predict destructive winds could hit the island late on Tuesday or early Wednesday morning.
Samoa damage
New Zealand's High Commissioner to Samoa, Penelope Riddings power has been cut, crops destroyed and many roads have also been blocked.
"It looks like there are simply twigs left in some of the areas where the wind has had such force," she says.
"It's just broken off the trees."
Flights to and from Samoa, Tonga and Niue have been severely disrupted by the cyclone.
Tonga emergency plans
Tonga's National Disaster Management Committee members have drawn up an emergency package for two islands hit by Cyclone Heta.
Reports from Radio Tonga say that Committee Chairman, acting Prime Minister Clive Edwards, is considering sending a Tonga Defence Force plane to Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu with Red Cross officials to conduct a damage survey.
Temporary relief consisting of about 30 tarpaulins in Niuatoputapu may be distributed today to some while other items will be shipped there shortly.
Strong winds associated with Cyclone Heta have weakened in Niuatoputapu.
06/01/2004 18:31:46 | ABC Radio Australia News
