The Fijian authorities have called a state of emergency in the northern and eastern part of the archipelago after a number of islands were hit by cyclone Tomas.

Homes and crops have been destroyed and around 10,000 people have had to be evacuated. The exact extent of the damage is not clear as communication with many islands is impossible.

The authorities are mainly concerned about the northern islands of Cikobia and Qelelevu. Fiji’s main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, were spared by Tomas.

The cyclone reached wind speeds of up to 175 kilometres per hour.

Fiji is made up of 300 islands east of Australia in the Pacific Ocean, at least 100 islands are inhabited.