AUCKLAND, April 10 (AFP) - A tropical cyclone was Tuesday continuing to intensify in the South Pacific and was heading toward New Zealand, weather services said.
Cyclone Sose, the strongest cyclone of the current Pacific summer season, has already claimed one life.
Radio Vanuatu reported a 60-year-old man was hit by a flying coconut as he tried to find shelter on Malakula Island.
Sose was Tuesday around 170 nautical miles (315 kilometres) east of Noumea, New Caledonia,
Honolulus Joint Typhoon Warning Center said winds in the cyclone were around 45 to 65 knots (83 to 120 kilometres per hour) near the 24 nautical mile (44 kilometre) cyclone eye. It was producing six metre (20 feet) high waves.
The warning said Sose was expected to maintain intensity as it headed toward New Zealand, 1,800 kilometres (1116 miles) to the south.
mjf/pw AFP
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