13 hours since flood waters entered Nadi Town, the situation is worsening with continuous rain and most of the roads and areas in and around Nadi Town flooded.
Many homes and families have been severely affected and people are worried that things may worsen later today as we approach the next high tide at about 4pm today.
Nadi Weather Office Director, Rajendra Prasad said people should take precautions as heavy rain will continue this afternoon.
He said the situation will remain the same for the next 24 hours.
Close to 90 houses in the village of Narewa in Nadi are now flooded.
Villager Kalesi Dawai said this is more than half of the houses in Narewa village which have been affected by the flash floods.
Dawai said most of the people have been evacuated to Ratu Navula Secondary School and to near-by double storey buildings.
More than 30 houses in the village of Namotomoto beside the Nadi river are now flooded.
Villager Makereta Bale said most of the people are moving to high ground as they expect the water level to rise further this afternoon.
Bale said he was surprised to wake up this morning and see flood waters approaching their backyard and she believes it will be worse this afternoon when the high tide comes in.
More than 1,000 people from close to 500 houses in Nawatekuma and Korociri settlement in the district of Nawaka have been evacuated this morning after the flood waters entered their homes.
Nawaka district rep, Kiniviliame Labalaba also said this is the worst flood to hit Nadi since 1999 with more people affected.
Nadi Police confirm that around 50 people are taking shelter at the evacuation center at the Old Government Supplies building after flood waters entered their homes.
Nadi Town Mayor Timoci Koroiqica said Nadi town cannot be accessed at this stage.
DISMAC Operation Centers Now Activated
DISMAC Operations Centers in the flood affected areas are now activated with a number of evacuation centers also activated this morning.
However, DISMAC Deputy Director Patilia Dobui said their teams are currently trying to ascertain how many people are now taking shelter at the evacuation centers in Nadi, Ba, Lautoka, Sigatoka and Rakiraki.
He confirms that ration packs are prepared and will be distributed once they ascertain how many people are in need.
Dobui said the major difficulty DISMAC is facing is trying to access the flood affected areas to assess the situation and help those in need.
Red Cross Emergency Teams Out On Field
The Red Cross Emergency Response teams are now on the ground in some of the flood affected areas and are trying to make their way to settlements under flood waters.
Disaster Coodinator Vuli Gauna told Fijivillage news that they have surveyed a few of the affected villages in the Nadi area.
Gauna adds that their initial assessment reveal that those people now taking shelter at various evacuation centers are not in urgent need of clothing and other supplies at this stage.
Water Slowly Recedes In Ba
Water has started receding slowly in Ba town however the many areas of the town area are still flooded and all roads going towards the town is still closed to all traffic.
Ba Mayor Pravin Bala said they are currently trying to help people stranded in many other flooded areas outside Ba town and is calling on boat owners to provide help to the Town Council and the police.
Evacuation centers are also activated in Lautoka as some roads leading into Lautoka Town are closed to traffic due to flooding.
District Officer Lautoka Tomasi Mucunabitu said the Lovu flats are under flood waters and he is urging people to use the evacuation center if the need arises.
Mucunabitu said several roads are closed to traffic and motorists are advised to exercise caution if they wish to go into Lautoka City.
Flood waters have entered in close to forty houses in Lomolomo, Barara and Wailoko in Lautoka forcing the occupants to flee their homes. Lomolomo District Advisory Councillor, Latchman Naicker said these forty families are staying with their neighbours on high ground.
He has called on authorities to open up an evacuation center in the area.
Naicker said Vuda Back Road is under 5 feet of water and waters are rising.
Flood Similar To 1963 Experience-Dawai
68 year old Iromi Dawai of the village of Navoci in Nadi believes the current flash flooding experience in the five villages of Nakavu, Namotomoto, Narewa, Sikituru and Navoci which are located near the banks of the Nadi river is similar to what he experienced in 1963.
Dawai who was 22 yrs old in 1963 said at that time they used boat as their form of transport to visit the 5 villages and it was the same year too the old Nadi bridge was washed away by flood which led to the new bridge been built.
He said the flood in 1999 did not do alot of damages in this villages compared to the one this morning where he witness beds, stove gas, wardrobes, cupboards and tables floating around those houses that have been affected by the flood.
Dawai added most of the houses which were not flooded in 1999 in the 5 villages are now experiencing flooding and it could be worse than 1963 if there will be heavy rainfall when the tide comes in later this afternoon.
The main transmission line from Rarawai to Vatukoula has been affected by the strong winds which have resulted in most of the Western Division being without power since yesterday.
Fiji Electricity Authority General Manager Network, OmDutt Sharma said at the moment their linesmen are currently trying to fix the problem however flood waters are preventing them from getting to their various destinations.
Sharma said those affected span from Sigatoka to Tavua.
