Heavy rain continues to batter Fiji

Heavy rain and flash flood warnings remains in force for Fiji as a trough of low pressure continues to affect the country.

Schools remain closed across the country except for Rotuma, and non-essential civil servants have been advised to assess on their own accord, whether it would be safer to work from home.

In its latest forecast, the Fiji Meteorological Service predicted rain would last until Friday.

“With the soil already saturated, there is high risk of flash flooding,” National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko said in a media update on Wednesday.

“The team at the National Disaster Management Office have received reports flash flooding and landslips, particularly in the Central Division, and reports of road closures due to flooding in the Central, Northern and Western Divisions.”

Soko confirmed there had been no reports of injuries and that damages would be fully assessed once roads are cleared.

She said that as of Wednesday afternoon, two evacuations centres remained open, providing shelter to more than 60 evacuees from 12 households.

“We will deploy initial damage assessments…as of when roads are clear to ensure that not only are we taking care of our vulnerable ones in our evacuation centres but also our farmers who are being affected.”

There are also concerns about the spread of typhoid and leptospirosis with the disaster management office issuing public advisories for people to take precuations.

Soko said schools that have been used as evacuation centres will be disinfected and urged people to take measures to protect their children.

Motorists in towns have been forced to drive through water in many parts of the country as roads become inundated by heavy rainfall.

Nasinu – an urban area surrounding Suva – received the most rain, with 200 millimetres in the space of 24 hours. Fiji Met Official, Samisoni Waqavakatoga says rainfall is likely to continue until Friday and forecast to move south.

“Any amount of rain can cause flooding,” Fiji Met Service weather forecaster Samisoni Waqavakatoga said.

“The soil is already saturated so even a small of rain can cause flooding.”

Meanwhile, downpours are forecast to occur in Tonga, with local authorities already warning the public about the threat of flash floods.