Gita causes big damage

TONGA began cleaning up yesterday after a cyclone hit the island, while some people in the nearby Pacific nation of Fiji began preparing for the storm to hit them.

Cyclone Gita destroyed homes and churches in Tonga and caused widespread power outages after it tore through the island nation just south of the capital, Nuku’alofa.

There were no immediate reports of serious injuries or deaths. The cyclone was packing winds of over 200km/h when it made landfall.

The nation has declared a state of emergency.