Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says we may not be facing another cyclone – but as we’ve tragically seen before, heavy rain can cost lives all the same.
Bainimarama says unfortunately the heavy rain being experienced in the country has arrived on the heels of Tropical Cyclone Harold.
He further says the soil is already saturated and unstable, making the risk of landslides extremely high.
The Prime Minister is urging people to not congregate or seek shelter in buildings beneath steeply sloped areas and in the event of a landslide, contact the Mineral Resources Department or the NDMO on 915 before making any attempt to clear the slip.
Bainimarama is also urging Fijians to adhere to the warnings that are in place.
He says these rains, and the resulting flooding, can kill and he is calling on Fijians to not swim in rivers or streams, or risk crossing the rapids.
The Prime Minister adds all too often, we see Fijians –– particularly children –– drown in these conditions.
He says these are not the same waters people are used to crossing, so don’t treat them the same way you do on any ordinary day adding they are unpredictable, they can carry heavy debris, and they are deadly.
The Prime Minister says he is asking parents to please strictly supervise their children.
Bainimarama further says do not allow them to play in this rainy weather; even if they avoid the dangers of flooding, the waters can carry disease.
He adds given the recent, post-cyclone rise in Leptospirosis, Typhoid, Dengue, and Diarrhoea –– all Fijians need to take this threat seriously.
He says wet conditions will serve as a breeding ground for these life-threatening ailments.
Naveel
