AUCKLAND, New Zealand (New Zealand Herald, Jan. 14) - Two children are missing, feared dead, after their church shelter was destroyed when the force of Cyclone Ami struck Fiji's northern islands early this morning, a news agency has reported.
Reports of the church's collapse on Duradura Island, less than 220 kilometers northeast of Fiji's capital Suva, were received by an official of Fiji's Disaster Management Office this morning, AFP reported.
The centre of Cyclone Ami was reported at 6am to be 70km north of the island of Vanua Levu's main city, Labasa, 20km south of Duradura.
It was reported to have reached hurricane force with average wind speeds of 140km/h and gusts of up 185km/h.
New Zealanders were likely to be holidaying in the region, the Travel Agents Association said today. Last year 47,000 visited the islands.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Emma Reilly today said 500 New Zealanders were known to live in Fiji.
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