Cyclone Tomas is forcing Fiji to declare a State of Emergency, and the country is ordering troops to launch relief operations in northern regions. The storm's onslaught has started to weaken, but the scope of destruction is not clear because communications have been cut off.

Fiji's National Disaster Council declared a 30-day State of Emergency for northern and eastern divisions. Some northern areas were deluged with more than 30 centimeters of rain in two days.

As the measurements were taking place, more rain continued to fall. More than 17 thousand people have been placed in 240 government shelters. The country is appealing for international assistance.

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