SUVA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Tropical cyclone Mona has severely affected Fiji with roads being closed, flights cancelled and hundreds of people sheltered in evacuation centers across the South Pacific island nation.
The Fiji Meteorological Services said on Sunday that Mona is slightly shifting its predicted track towards eastern Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island.
Senior forecaster Amit Singh said the predictions earlier showed that Mona would track between Labasa and Udu Point, leaning closer towards Udu Point.
Mona would not make landfall on Vanua Levu but continues to move slowly towards the Northern Division at 20km/hr, Singh said, adding that the shift in track is based on a number of movements.
The weather office predicted that the center of the cyclone would pass over land from Sunday evening.
Singh said the northern, eastern and central parts of the nation has been raining until Monday. More rain and gale force winds are expected as Moda moves closer.
Meanwhile, a flood warning remains in force for all low-lying areas, small streams and areas adjacent to major rivers of the island nation.
According to Fiji's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), a total of 632 people have taken shelter in 15 evacuation centers across the nation.
The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) confirmed on Sunday that 36 roads are closed in various locations around the nation due to Mona.
A total of 21 domestic flights has been cancelled for Monday.
In 2016, Fiji was hit by the full force of tropical cyclone Winston which left 44 people dead and destroyed tens of thousands of homes.
