1,837 people are currently taking shelter in 110 evacuation centres across the country after widespread flooding and heavy rain brought by Tropical Cyclone Cody.
Minister for Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu says 1,045 people have taken shelter in 76 centres in the Western Division, 553 people in 28 centres in the Central Division while 235 people have taken shelter in 8 evacuation centres in the Northern Division.
He says the Eastern Division has been largely spared and have no evacuation centres open however the Commissioner Eastern is monitoring the situation and should there be a need centres will be opened.
Seruiratu says if you feel the need to move to an evacuation centre then you should move during daylight.
He adds the safety of first responders are also important so people need to move during daylight.
The Acting Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service Terry Atalifo says people should still be on alert for now as we should still be expecting rain till later today.
He says people should still take precautions at this stage but the good news is the weather is gradually improving and the sun is already out in parts of the country.
Atalifo stresses that flash flooding is expected to still be an issue in the next few days because of the expected rain.
Atalifo says you can expect heavy rain to start easing across the country and in terms of gale-force winds, they will start easing from tomorrow.
He adds you should expect rough seas until the middle of the week.
Atalifo adds that Tropical Cyclone Cody is moving away from Fiji.
He says TC Cody will continue to move away from Fiji into tomorrow.
Seven major rivers around the country have broken their banks according to the latest update by the Weather Office.
These include the Nakauvadra river in Rakiraki, Nasivi river in Tavua, Ba river, Nadi river, Qawa river in Labasa, Nasekawa river in Dreketi in Vanua Levu and the Waidina river in Naitasiri.
If you live near these major rivers please do not take the risk and move to an evacuation centre or higher ground.
You can call 917 or 910 if you need assistance.
There is a severe flood warning in force for all low lying areas near the Rewa river, Nakauvadra river in Rakiraki, Nasivi river in Tavua, Ba river, Sabeto river in Nadi, Nawaka river, Nadi river, Yaqara river, Waibula river, Waimanu river, Wainimala river, Wainibuka, Qawa river in Labasa and Nasekawa river in Dreketi.
TD03F has intensified into Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Cody.
The Weather Office says TC Cody is located to southwest of Kadavu and is gradually moving away from the Fiji group.
Despite the gradual movement of TC Cody away from the Fiji group, the Weather Office is stressing that people should remain on high alert as there will be continuous rain that will lead to flash flooding in low lying and flood-prone areas. With the soil already saturated from rain in the last couple of days, the Weather Office is also saying that there is a high risk of landslides.
Please note that there is still a gale warning in force for Viti Levu, Kadavu, Yasawa and Mamanuca group.
Winds of this strength can cause significant damage to houses of very light materials or unshielded structures with blown roofs in exposed communities, damage power lines and disrupt communication networks, damage plants and crops, break twigs of small trees and cause disruption to transport.
There is also a strong wind warning in force for the rest of Fiji.
A flash flood warning remains in force for all low lying and flash flood prone areas of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
A severe flood warning remains in force for all low lying areas and small streams adjacent to and downstream of Nakauvadra River in Rakiraki, Nasivi River in Tavua, Ba River, Sabeto River, Yaqara and Nananu River, Nawaka River, Nadi River and Waidina River, Tuva River, Waibula River, Rewa River, Waimanu River, Wainimala and Wainibuka River.
A flood alert remains in force for low lying areas adjacent to and downstream of the Sigatoka River, Navua River, Qawa River, Labasa River, Wailevu River, Wainikoro River, Dreketi River, Sorowaqa River, Lekutu River, Dama River, Wainunu River, Nasekawa River and Yanawai River.
A heavy rain warning also remains in force for Fiji.
A tropical cyclone warning remains in force for Fiji.
The Nadi Weather Office says Tropical Depression 03F was located about 240 Kilometres South of Nadi at 3am today.
The Weather Office says the depression is expected to slow down and move West with the centre about 180 kilometres Southwest of Kadavu at midday today.
A gale warning remains in force for the Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Northern and Western parts of Viti Levu, Western interior parts of Viti Levu, Vatulele and Kadavu.
Some of the possible impacts include significant damage to houses of unshielded and very light structures in exposed communities, isolated loss of communication and electricity supply due to damaged power lines, some plants/crops tilted or damaged and twigs of small trees may be broken and blocking/affecting transport routes.
A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji.
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