Two people are missing and two are dead after Cyclone Mick ripped through the Fiji islands overnight.

The category two cyclone is moving away from the area after pounding it with winds reaching up to 156 kilometres an hour overnight.

Fijilive.com quotes the National Disaster Management Office as confirming that a student died when a tree fell on him in the Nadarivatu highlands in the north of Viti Levu and a man was swept away in strong river currents at Sigatoka.

Two people who went fishing have not returned home.

Flooding occurred in many areas including Suva overnight and evacuations took place in Navua and Lautoka. Further flooding is expected at high tide.

The cyclone is now heading towards Tonga and should arrive in the next day or two.

– NEWSTALK ZB