The director of Tonga's National emergency office, Leveni 'Aho, says disaster management committees have been activated in smaller districts as the Kingdom awaits the arrival of tropical cyclone Ian.
The cyclone is about 185 kilometres northwest of Vava'u and has average wind speeds of 157 kilometres an hour close to the centre with momentary gusts of 222 kilometres an hour.
It was a category 4 cyclone overnight but has now been been downgraded to a 3.
Mr 'Aho says people living in the outer islands have been on stand by since the cyclone first surfaced on Monday.
He says Ian is expected to pass close to the Vava'u and Ha'apai group, and the communities there are bracing themselves.
"One of our hospitals in Ha'apai is sitting right at the waterfront, so my understanding from the Ha'apai committee that they have made arrangements to move patients out from there to another school as a temporary arrangement and also advising people right on the waterfront to seek shelter with relatives or families inland."
Leveni 'Aho says there are a number of resorts right at the waterfront in Vava'u and they are all aware of the situation.
