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Winds batter coconut palms in Fiji. Photo courtesy of Courtland Lee - Source: ONE News -
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Two people are now thought to have died in Fiji as a result of Cyclone Tomas.
Police reports say the latest confirmed death is the drowning of a man believed to be a public works employee.
He was attempting to cross a river near Labasa in the north, when he was pulled under by swift currents at the weekend.
Tomas was downgraded, after it weakened on Thursday and moved southeast, away from Fiji, leaving the island nation to cleanup.
Disaster management officials say with communication links restored to most areas in the group, it is highly unlikely that more deaths will be reported.
The worst affected islands in the Lau group appear to be Nayau, Cicia and Vanua-Balavu.
It has also emerged that islands in the Lomaiviti group were hit by eight metre high storm surges.
Reconnaissance flights by the New Zealand Air Force indicate that the north and north eastern areas sustained the most damage from Cyclone Tomas, and that the level of damage reduced as it moved further south.
