Flood warnings for parts of Ba, Rakiraki & Tavua with severe flood alerts for low lying areas near major rivers in Western Viti Levu

The National Disaster Management Office says they have started to receive reports of flooding in the Western Division and are asking the public to limit travel and refrain from unnecessary movement for their own safety.

NDMO Director Vasiti Soko says flooding is one of their main areas of concern.

She says data released by the Fiji Police Force between 2017 and last year show that 17 people drowned during an event of a natural disaster.

Soko adds majority of these incidents involved people being swept away by strong currents while trying to cross flooded rivers, creeks and streams during natural disasters.

She is also calling on those living in landslide-prone areas to take precautionary measures.

Soko stresses that with already highly saturated soil as a result of heavy rain in the last few days, there are also high chances of landslides occurring.

Remain on high alert and take the necessary precautions if you live in low lying and flood prone areas as more rain and possible flooding is expected from tomorrow.

The Weather Office Acting Director Terry Atalifo is saying that Tropical Disturbance 03F has a moderate to high chance of becoming a cyclone by Monday.

As of 9am today, TD03F was located about 550km west of Nadi.

TD03F is moving west-southwest at 11 kilometres per hour.

This tropical disturbance is expected to be slow-moving to the southwest of Fiji till early next week due to a high-pressure system situated to the far south of Fiji.

Atalifo says if TDO3F becomes a cyclone, it will remain to the west of Fiji.

He adds they anticipate heavy rain and strong winds to affect Fiji from tomorrow to Wednesday.

Atalifo also says flooding is a major concern.

The system is also expected to bring strong to damaging gale force winds of up to 85 kilometres per hour with wind gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour over the western and southern parts of Vanua Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, northern and western parts of Viti Levu, Beqa, Vatulele and Kadavu.

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 travel/transport.

There is a severe flood alert in force for low lying areas near major rivers in Western Viti Levu.

The rivers at risk of flooding are the Tuva River, Kubuna River, Nawaka River, Nadi River, Sabeto River, Vuda River, Vitogo River, Teidamu River, Ba River, Nasivi River, Yaqara River, Nakauvadra River, Penang River and Elevuka Creek.

Please prepare and remain on high alert if you live near these major rivers in Western Viti Levu.

The Weather Office says currently water levels at all these rivers are below the flood alert threshold but with more rain expected the risk of the bank break and flooding is high.

A heavy rain warning remains in force for the Northern Division, Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.

A flash flood warning remains in force for all low lying and flood-prone areas of Vanua Levu and a flash flood alert remains in force for all low lying and flood-prone areas in Nadi through to Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki and Korovou.

An active trough of low pressure with associated clouds and rain affects the Fiji group.

Kings Highway at Tavua Town is flooded.

This has been confirmed by the Fiji Roads Authority.

Flood waters have also entered some shops in Tavua Town.

Stay with us for updates.

Energy Fiji Limited says their engineers are trying to establish and repair the fault that has caused an unplanned power disruption to the whole of the Western Division.

They are hoping to restore power by tonight.

The 132000 volts transmission line that transports power from the Wailoa and Nadarivatu Hydro Power Stations to the Western Division of Viti Levu tripped this afternoon resulting in a total blackout to the Western Division.

EFL says they tried to restore power supply by switching on the line once again however it tripped after a short while once again.

Police are calling on people living in flood-prone and low lying areas to make necessary arrangements and move to higher ground as more rain and possible flooding is expected for the next few days.

Chief Operations Officer ACP Abdul Khan is also stressing that this is the time parents need to be with their children or ensure their children are under the care of a responsible adult at all times.

He says ensure children are indoors and do not let your guard down.

ACP Khan adds their officers will be around patrolling flooded areas.