Labasa Police are now helping people living in the Labasa town area to move to evacuation centres.
Regional Police Commander Northern, SSP Luke Qionibaravi said the water level in the Labasa River is increasing due to heavy rain and as a precautionary measure they are telling people in the low lying areas to move to evacuation centres.
Swirling winds and rising flood waters continue to force people to move to safety in Labasa.
Lalit Singh, who resides close to Labasa Town, said he had to help some families living along the river banks move to an evacuation center.
Three main rivers that join the Labasa River are flooded.
They are the Korotari, Suweni and Vunimoli river.
Labasa resident from Anuve in Bulileka Chandar said that in the last three hours, he has seen huge scale damage to the houses in his neighborhood as well as to the crops.
He also said that dry food items like rice and flour for those staying in the low lying areas has been damaged as a result of the heavy rain seeping into their houses.
He added that it is raining so heavily that he cannot go outside but has managed to see the damage through a hole in the wall.
In Taveuni
A number of houses in Matei Taveuni have been destroyed after coconut trees fell on them.
Carpenters Motors Taveuni branch Manager, Shalvin Maharaj said heavy rain and strong winds are being experienced in Taveuni and a number of roads have also been closed due to fallen trees.
Close to thirty families are seeking refuge at the Waibunabuna School Hostel in Bua.
School head teacher, Divendra Kumar said that these families are mostly those that have weak structured homes and they are all weathering the Hurricane at the school.
Residents in the Northern Division are now without electricity as FEA has switched off power as a precautionary measure earlier today.
This is the confirmation from Commissioner Northern, Colonel Inia Seruiratu.
Colonel Seruiratu added that there are broken power lines on the road in Labasa near Labasa College and residents should be careful.
Colonel Seruiratu adds that they are still unable to communicate with the people from Cikobia.
In Savusavu
A Savusavu resident said that they are currently experiencing strong winds which has seen damage sustained in some places.
Chanel Fong said that she has seen some roofing iron fly past her house.
Her family also adds that that they are currently without power supply and that they can see a yacht stuck on the reef however people have managed to rescue those on-board.
Seaqaqa resident Imtiaz Hussein said the wind has picked up since this morning and the Kavoro Bridge is under water.
In Kioa Island where they are facing the full brunt of Hurricane Tomas, Advisory Councilor David Taulia said that the island trees have fallen down and there are damages to the outdoor kitchens and they expect the situation to worsen overnight.
Villages of Lakeba in Macuata have fled the cave they were taking shelter in this morning after a change the wind direction due to Hurricane Tomas.
Villager Kusima Kulivusu said it is was one of those hurricanes that have affected them badly as they could feel the full brunt of the winds from yesterday till this hour.
Kulivusu added those 120 villages who were in the cave are now taking shelter in the church with close to 5 house are now without their roofs.
He said the breadfruit trees and root crops in their nearby farms have been all damage after heavy rain and strong winds which has now lasted 24 hours.
Savusavu is now experiencing very strong winds however rain has stopped for a while.
Savusavu Town resident, Chanel Fong said Police are patrolling the town area since it is in total darkness however she can hear the shutters and roofing iron from the shops being ripped off due to.
Fong added that her family is fortunate to have a generator but otherwise the whole town is in darkness.
In Tukavesi
DISMAC officers in Tukavesi in the Northern Division are reporting flooding in their area.
Joseph Vuica who is stationed in the village of Tukavesi said that they are noting villagers have all left their homes and sought shelter at the Police Post, health quarters and at the Tukavesi high School as the weather worsens.
He added that along with the high tide earlier this evening, the village has been flooded.
Vuica added that they did not report any damages earlier in the day but with the increase in rain and wind this evening, the villagers do not know what to expect come daylight tomorrow.
Looking at the infrustrure damages:
Water levels are rising in Waidina.
Works Ministry spokesperson, Sainiana Waqainabete said people living in these areas need to be mindful of this.
For the Northern division, in Savusavu, Buca Bay Road is closed between Naweni village junction and Vava.
Savusavu is experiencing power blackouts particularly at Savusdavu Hospital.
Electricians are trying to restore power to the hospital.
The Tukavesi seawall has been damaged.
All contacts to Tukavesi have also been lost.
For Labasa, the Nakama crossing along Naduna Road is now underwater and closed to all traffic.
For Nabouwalu, the substation at Kubulau is unable to be reached by the Works Ministry.
Waqainabete said Saqani is also unreachable.
For Natua Hospital in Seaqaqa, power is out at the hospital while the Works Ministry is trying to secure a generator.
For Taveuni, the only road closed or that we know of is the Northern Coastal Road and a landslide has affected the Southern Coastal Road.
Water supply is affected in Labasa due to the power blackout.
Broken power lines have also affected power supply in Savusavu.
Onto the Rewa Delta, a tripping of the power line has caused power blackouts.
Electricians are currently working on the problem.
Vunidawa is also experiencing power blackouts.
