Police on the island of Mare say electricity is cut in some areas but communication lines are still operating.

There are no reports of damage but police say the island's seven thousand inhabitants have taken shelter.

Local metereologists say winds have shifted direction and the centre of the cyclone has now left Mare and travelled further south.

=A9 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Thu Jan 21 15:15:00 1999 ( AEDT )
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Time