Flood warning remains in force

A heavy rain warning remains in force and a flood warning is still in force for the low lying areas and small streams throughout the country.

A flood alert remains in force for the low lying areas and the downstream areas of Waimanu Station, the low-lying areas and areas adjacent to Rewa Bridge Station and areas downstream of Nausori Town and for the low lying areas and small streams at Rakiraki town.

We received confirmation that at 10am today, the water level at the Rewa Bridge was 3.16 meters which is 0.34 meters below alert level however it is slowly increasing.

The level at Waimanu Station was 3.22 meters which is 0.91 meters below alert level but is currently rising and the level at the Rakiraki Station was 1.71 meters which is 0.21 meters above alert level and is also still increasing.

The Tropical Depression was located at 370km Northwest of Nadi at about 9am this morning and the depression is slow moving while the center is expected to remain to the West of Fiji.

Associated trough of low pressure and active rain bands continues to affect the country.

The Nadi Weather Office says the depression has a low chance of developing into Tropical Cyclone.

For the whole of Fiji, periods of rain heavy at time with thunderstorms over most places which will ease to occasional rain from later tomorrow.

The Nadi Weather Office says in the last 48 hours Waimanu received 349 millimetres of rain, Laucala Bay area received 322 millimetres of rain, Lomaivuna received 231 millimetres, Sabata 176 millimetres and Kaiasi 153 millimetres of rain.

Situation Report:

Flood waters in Wailea, Vatuwaqa has receded.

Divisional Planning Officer Central Sakiusa Ravatu confirmed this to Fijivillage saying that flood waters in some areas is completely gone while in some areas the level of the water has gone down a little.

Ravatu says that evacuees that were sheltered at the Vishnu Deo Primary School have all returned to their houses.

He adds that only the Nadera Methodist Church and the Ramlakhan Primary School evacuation centres are still operational.

Meanwhile, no reports of flooding in the Western Division have been received.

Western Emergency Operation Center says they are receiving rain but it is not heavy.

They say they are monitoring the rainfall level in the highlands as most of the major rivers in the Western Division can also cause flooding.

Meanwhile, Fijivillage has received confirmation that flood waters in the Vunibau and Deuba village have gone down since yesterday.

A resident at Vunibau village has confirmed that the flood waters were very high yesterday and even some families experienced flood waters entering their homes.

Evacuation centres:

The National Emergency Operation centre confirms at least 300 people are now staying at the 19 evacuation centres located in the Eastern and Central division.

People are staying at Nadera Methodist Church Hall, Vashist Muni Primary School, Adi Cakobau School and Vishnu Deo Primary School.

People are also being accommodated in evacuation centres in Koro, Nakodi, Batiki, Motoriki and Siliana villages.

Families in Veiraisi settlement and Waila Settlement have also been affected by flood waters and are in evacuation centres.

Sawani village in Naitasiri is now open as an evacuation centre.

This has been confirmed by Divisional Planning Officer Central Sakiusa Savatu who says that it is currently sheltering families from the village and from nearby areas.

Meanwhile, Ravatu also confirms that Nadoi village in Rewa has also been designated as an evacuation centre however it is not open yet as there is not threat yet of flooding the area.

He says that this is to shelter nearby families and residents of the area.

Meanwhile, 60 residents from Navua are now sheltering at the Vashist Muni Schools.

Residents of Nakaulevu, Tokotoko back road and Raiwaqa have confirmed that flood waters have receded but it continues to rain.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Northern Jovesa Vocea says that the weather in the division remains mostly calm, however he adds that they have only experienced slight rain. 

An evacuation centre has been opened in the Western Division.

Western Division Emergency Operations Centre confirms that 23 people are sheltering in Toko Primary School in Tavua.

People can call the Western Division Emergency Operations Centre on 6281553 if they need any assistance.

Power:

FEA personnel are still working on the three fallen power posts at Baulevu Road in Kasavu village.

Residents in the area are also experiencing power disruptions.

The Fiji Electricity Authority has not given any time‑frame on when power will be restored to affected areas in the Central and Western division.

Power disruptions are being experienced from Lami to Sigatoka and parts of Nausori.

FEA says these unplanned outages have occurred due to the adverse weather condition experienced in the Central and Western Division.

FEA also reminds the public to treat all fallen power lines as ‘live’.