People in Vanuatu's capital are cleaning up after being hit by galeforce winds from a tropical cyclone overnight, while communications have been cut to other affected areas.
Cyclone Vania is about 50 kilometres north west of Tanna and is intensifying with wind speeds of 95 kilometres an hour close to the centre.
The National Disaster Management Office says a red alert has now been issued for all of Tafea province which means people are advised to stay indoors, avoid the ocean and listen to the radio.
A spokesman for the office, Esrom Molisa says communications have now broken down to the province.
But earlier there were reports of minor damage to food crops and some flooding of rivers and lowlying areas, while a transmitter was also down.
Esrom Molisa says there were reports of trees being blown over and some damage to squatter homes as destructive gale force winds battered the capital, Port Vila.
But our correspondent Len Garae says most of the damage was done to vegetation and gardens.
"Their gardens have all been ruined, and people who have at home fruit trees, they've all been ruined also, but otherwise their houses, homes, as far as we know are all intact."
Fiji Meteorological Service Tropical Cyclone Forecaster Misa Elefunaki says Cyclone Vania has moved at less than five knots in the last few hours.
The projection is for Tropical Cyclone Vania to gradually turn into a more southwesterly movement and its going to maintain the southwest movement over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Misa Elefunaki says Cyclone Vania should be in close proximity of the main island of New Caledonia from around midnight tonight.
Meanwhile, the French High Commission in Noumea has upgraded the cyclone warning to orange for the Loyalty Islands, where Vania is expected to hit this afternoon.
This means all businesses and schools have been ordered to stay closed. People are advised to seek shelter or stay indoors.
Boats are to be secured and people are advised to stay away from coastal areas that could be affected by a storm surge.
The main island is still on pre-alert.
