At least four people were killed and another was missing in Fiji after Cyclone Josie caused severe flooding in the South Pacific island nation, local media reported.

Much of the main tourist town of Nadi was underwater as Josie, with wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph) caused widespread flooding before moving away from the island group.

Police director of operations Livai Driu told the Fiji Village website that five people were washed away and "police have retrieved four bodies".

The search was continuing for a missing 19-year-old man.

The National Disaster Management office said more than 1,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centres while heavy rain and strong wind warnings remained in place for Monday.

Photos and videos posted on social media showed cars and buildings engulfed in floodwaters.

"Nadi town and some villages are all drown," said one message.

"The cyclone has already killed five people. So many people have been left without basic needs," read another.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Tweet

20 dead as powerful storm hits Madagascar
Antananarivo (AFP) March 20, 2018
A powerful tropical storm that lashed the island of Madagascar has left 20 people dead and affected 19,000 more, according to an official toll. The storm also closed several national highways that were flooded by the heavy rain, the country's disaster management office said late Monday. In a previous toll late Sunday it said 17 people had died and 15,000 had been affected. Storm Eliakim slammed into the northeastern Masoala peninsula on Friday before barrelling south down the coast. By Monda ... read more