After leaving a destructive path in Samoa last week, the category four system is bearing down on Fiji.

Evan is 480 kilometres wide and packing winds of 230 kilometres per hour, making it the strongest cyclone to threaten the country in 20 years.

"The north-eastern part is already experiencing the effect of the cyclone," he said.

Schools are being converted into evacuation centres and the police and military are on standby.

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