The Sigatoka river burst its banks in some sections and a curfew will now be imposed in Sigatoka town from this evening as flood waters have started to enter the town area.
Sigatoka Mayor Ratu Sikeli Tasere said they met with the Police this morning and have decided to impose the curfew in Sigatoka as the situation has started worsen.
Meanwhile, Sigatoka Police Station Officer In Charge Aliposo Vakaloloma said Sigatoka Town is partly submerged under flood waters.
In the Nausori area, our reporter on the ground confirms that the Rewa river has burst its banks at Nadali and around 20 homes are now under four feet of flood waters.
Villagers in the bank of the Wainibuka river are now feeling the full brunt of flash flooding from last night.
In the village of Lutu in Wainibuka, 30 houses are flooded as the water level continues to increase and it could be worse this afternoon.
Village headman, Ratu Inoke Koroiyavudi confirmed that Lutu District School and the nursing station are also flooded and they have moved to higher grounds.
Koroiyavudi said the flash flooding is one of the worse to be experienced in his village for sometime as it has reached some places where it normally does not flood.
Also the village of Nukuloa in Wainibuka is flooded with more than 20 houses affected. The villagers have moved to the village hall and some to the nearby school.
In the Rewa Province, the village of Burebasaga and Vatuyaba more than 10 houses are flooded as the Rewa river continues to rise.
In Tailevu, Police confirm that the Naqali bridge is under 5 feet of water while the entire Viria area is flooded and some people living in the area have moved to higher ground.
Flood waters have also flowed into the Koronivia road and some seven vehicles are stranded unable to cross the flooded sections of the road.
Two Dead After Landslide
The search continues for two girls who died after a landslide in Malabi, Wainibuka last night.
Deputy Director Police Operations SP Erami Raibe said they had to call off the search last night.
The body of a third victim, a 19 year old youth was recovered last night.
Yesterday afternoon a Class 8 boy was washed away by strong currents in Lautoka and his body is yet to be recovered.
In Ba, a 31yr old man died after he was washed away by strong currents and another man was washed away by strong currents while he was trying to swim in the Wailoa River, in Monasavu.
Still in Ba, a family of five had to flee for their lives after a landslide came crashing down on their home at around 8:30 last night. An occupant of the home confirms that the house is completely destroyed. He said they managed to get out just in time.
Evacuation Centers Increase To 48
DISMAC confirms that evacuation centers have increased from 41 in the last few hours to 48 after the rise in flood waters since last night. A total of 2340 people are at the 48 centers in the most affected areas in Ba and Nadi.
DISMAC senior officer, Laisenia Naitila said that these families have heeded warnings and moved to higher grounds or to the evacuation centers.
In Ba, Police confirm that the town is under close to 12 feet of water and hundreds of people are still taking shelter at the evacuation centers.
In Nadi Town, Police say that the town is still under 8 feet of water.
Adverse Weather Conditions Shift To North
The adverse weather conditions have now shifted to the Northern division and the Nadi Weather Office warns people to take precautions now.
Director, Rajendra Prasad said water levels in the flooded areas in the Western division is expected to start receding this morning in Nadi, Ba and Sigatoka. He said heavy rain is now forecast for most parts of the Northern division.
Seaqaqa resident Mohammad Aruf Khan said strong winds and heavy rain is already affecting the area.
Meanwhile, Prasad said another low pressure system is approaching Fiji and is expected to form into a tropical depression later in the week. Prasad said weather conditions are expected to deteriorate by Wednesday as the system will move past Fiji.
Feature
Sigatoka River Bursts Its Bank
