Fiji on Total Public Curfew as Cyclone Makes Landfall

A huge cyclone packing winds of 186 miles per hour made landfall in the Pacific island nation of Fiji on Saturday, according to the country's meteorological agency, NBC News reported.

A "total public curfew" was put into effect across the country by the National Disaster Management ahead of Tropical Cyclone Winston making landfall. Domestic and international flights have been canceled and authorities were urging people to secure their homes and not venture outside.

Gusts from the cyclone were reaching 224 miles per hour, according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama wrote on Facebook Saturday that the island's evacuation centers were operational and the government was prepared to deal with a potential crisis.

"As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind," he wrote. "We must stick together as a people and look after each other."

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