Nausori

The water level of the Rewa River continues to rise and is nearing the critical level.

DISMAC Director Pajilai Dobui said the latest water level is now at 4.34 metres and the critical level is 4.5 meters.

Dobui said as we are nearing nightfall, people living in the low lying areas need to move to high ground.

A few residents living in Lal Singh Road, Waila, Nausori had to leave their houses in the last hour as flood waters started entering their houses.

A resident Avinesh Nand said they took action after hearing the warnings and moved most of their belongings to safer grounds but their houses and nearby roads are now under about 2 feet of flood waters.

Meanwhile parts of Baulevu, Nausori are also flooded.

A resident of Baulevu, Hira Maniphal said parts of Muaniweni, Nasi, Baulevu flats are almost under 3 feet of flood waters.

People living along the Rewa River have started to move to high ground.

According to a resident of Baulevu, Binu Ram, water from the Rewa River is almost coming on the road.

Flood waters are rising in Sawani, Nausori.

A resident Vishwa Jeet said people should not take flood warnings lightly.

He said he was trying to go to Nausori Town however Sawani road is closed to all traffic.

The Rewa River continues to rise.

A resident in Toga Rewa DiVa said that the Toga road and bridge is flooded along with the village plantation.

Meanwhile our reporter Roneel Narayan who is currently in Lokia Nausori said flood waters continue to rise but no families have moved to high grounds or to evacuation centers.

We have received confirmation that parts of Rewa River has burst the banks and many areas in Waila are now flooded.

Flood waters have now started rushing in Syria Park near Nausori town.

Heavy rain continues in the highlands.

Our reporter Alex Elbourne who is currently at the scene said it seems to have burst its bank as the water level is up to the bank level and seems to be flowing out in Syria Park and nearby areas.

Please also take note that it is also raining heavily up in the highlands and all that water is now flowing into the main rivers.

Heavy rain continues in Nausori as flood waters have started to enter people’s homes.

Our reporter Dhanjay Deo who is currently in Koronivia said hundreds of people are stranded and some have moved to high grounds.

The playground near the old Rewa Bridge in Nausori is underwater and is like an island.

That was observed by Alumita Raikadroka who was returning home this morning after night shift in Nausori.

Raikadroka said most of the houses near the river banks are flooded and she witnessed that water continues to rise in the Rewa River.

The people of Naitasiri have been advised to stay indoors during the current condition.

Roko Tui Naitasiri Peni Sokia said with the Rewa River rising people should stop traveling to flooded areas.

The Waima, Waila and Vatuwaqa bridges have been underwater since yesterday.

In Wainibuka flood waters are starting to rise in Nayavu village in Wainibuka as heavy rain continues in Tailevu.

Speaking to Fijivillage, Ravuama Latulevu said a few houses are flooded and the new Nayavu Bridge is now underwater.

Tavua

Rain has eased a bit in Tavua currently but flood waters remain in many areas.

Officer in charge, Joseph Low confirmed that the Nabuna Flats, Yaladro Flats, Mataniwai, Kororvou and Vanuakula areas are still under flood waters.
 
He said Natawa Bridge towards Ba is also closed to all traffic as it is under flood waters.

Law said as far as Tavua Town is concerned there is no flood waters currently and the rain has eased.

He said that there are 521 residents living in the 4 evacuation centers that have been provided.

Sigatoka

Sigatoka Town Council CEO, Anand Sami Pillay confirmed that the Sigatoka River level is rising.

He said Lawaqa creek is also flooded and people from nearby areas are moving to evacuation centers.
 
Villages and low lying areas that are flooded again and this time worse than Friday morning are Sigatoka village, Cuvu and Lawai.

Flood waters have also entered Sigatoka town.

In Semo Village, a number of houses are now submerged in flood waters.

Sitiveni Kunaika a villager in Nabau said the water levels in Semo have reached almost 15 feet.

It is currently raining heavily in Sigatoka and Nayawa and Laselase villages are under flood waters.

A resident, Yasmin Rashid said families who had returned to their homes are now rushing back to evacuation centers in Sigatoka as flood waters are reaching knee level now.

She said her family of 7 members managed to save a few belongings and are now sheltering in the nearest evacuation center.

Strong winds and heavy rains continue in Navakai and Wailoaloa areas currently.

A resident Abbas Ali said it is difficult to say how many residents are currently facing hardships as it is still dark but there are more than a 100 households in the nearby areas which is most likely affected by the heavy rain.

He said this rain is very unusual for the residents as many are facing this situation for the first time.Stay with us we will have more on this in the next hour as this situation is currently developing.

Nadi

Nadi town is full of debris.

Heavy rain continues in Nadi.

Flood waters remain stagnant and DISMAC expects water levels to rise even further.

Most of the houses in Yavusania Village are now underwater including the Methodist Church.

A villager Vika Driu said they are now taking shelter at the Seventh Day Adventist church.

Some tourists have contacted us saying they totally understood the whole situation and will not try to rush to the airport as access roads are flooded from Denarau to Nadi town and to the Airport.

Speaking to Fijivillage, Australian tourist in Nadi, Sarah Mescrew said this is the first time for her to witness this level of flooding.

About 100 hotel guests of Sheraton hotel were transported to Nadi International Airport by four wheel drive vehicles and a helicopter earlier today.

It has been confirmed from the hotel front desk, the guests have checked out to catch the Melbourne and Brisbane flights today.

The Denarau road is still flooded.

Close to 120 people in Solovi, Nadi have been surviving on casava and tea since Friday and are in dire need of proper food as soon as possible.

These people are currently staying at Meiguniya Muslim Primary school as their houses are under almost 5 feet of flood water.

A resident Sharda Nand said these people are in desperate need for food and are calling on DISMAC and relevant authorities to reach out to them.

He said these people have nowhere else to go.

Nand added his sugar cane farm situated nearby is currently under 10 feet of flood water.

Lautoka

Many residents in Lautoka have experienced strong winds in the early hours this morning.

Rifle Range resident, Zahid Khan said that they experienced hurricane like winds earlier, but now it has dropped a little, and that they are experiencing rain.

Police also confirmed that in the last hour 3 families have been evacuated from Vuda seaside area and shifted to evacuation centers in Lautoka.

Ba

Many areas in Ba are still flooded and people are not able to move around.

Lions Club Ba, Secretary and a resident of Yalalevu, Terence Nitiya Prakash said flood waters are still high in their areas and they cannot move around.

About 15 people are staying at a relative’s house in Tauvegavega, Ba as they are unable to return to their home in Varadoli, Ba due to flood waters.

A resident Margaret Subarmani said they went to Tauvegavega for a funeral yesterday morning and towards the evening they could not return as all the roads are under 4 to 5 feet of flood waters.

Meanwhile flood waters have risen by approximately 1 feet in Ba town, market and the bus stand areas.

Special Administrator, Arun Prasad said the flood waters in the town and market areas are now approximately 7 feet.

Special Administrator Arun Prasad said Ba Town and market areas are still under 6 feet of flood waters and the bus stand area is under 4 feet of flood water.

Wailailai and Yaralevu flats are still under flood waters and roads leading up to these areas are not accessible.

Votua church, Sangam High school and 7 other schools are now open in Ba as evacuation centers and more people are moving in to the centers.

Rakiraki

Flood waters in Rakiraki town stand at 6 feet.

Provincial Administrator, Sitiveni Tavaga said Police and government officials have been deployed around Vaileka town and it is now cordoned off to ensure that members of the public are restricted from moving around the flooded areas.

Tavaga said there is also a concern from some supermarket owners on when the electricity will be restored because of the frozen food in the freezers.

Tavaga said rain water has been used for cooking and drinking since yesterday by the people of Rakiraki.

A family returning home from Nadi is stranded at Nadovi near Rakiraki due to rising flood waters in Rakiraki.

Shaneel Chandra of Rakiraki says a Nadovi resident has opened his house for them.

We repeat the message which we have been highlighting from yesterday for people not to take the risk and take necessary precautions with the weather systems approaching us and continuous rain combined with strong winds expected from later today.

Please ensure that you have your emergency supplies ready, store drinking water, stock up on batteries and ensure that you have a transistor radio to get continuous updates.

We are with you and will continue to provide updates on the current adverse weather condition.

More rain today will keep river levels high and flooding is also a risk in the Central and Northern region today so please listen to the weather updates.

Stay away from any flood waters.

 

Story by: Fijivillage Team