SUVA – Fiji’s Lau islands escaped the full wrath of Tropical Cyclone Ula – but two more fishermen are reported missing bringing the number of people lost at sea in Fiji to five.

Two major weather systems have since moved away from Fiji.

Reports from Lau said Cyclone Ula damaged some houses and crops but no one was injured.

Meanwhile, two families in Varoka, Ba, have informed police that they have not heard from two fishermen since Tuesday last week.

The pair, Rajeshwar Naidu, 49, and Edward Gerrish, 46, are experienced fishemen who have been overdue before.

Sharda Naidu, 45, wife of Naidu is still holding out hope that her husband will be back home in time before their daughter’s wedding on January 27.

An emotional Mrs Naidu said her husband had left on December 29 and had promised he would be back home safely.

Naidu said in 2011 her husband did not return from a fishing trip after a week. But he turned up a week later.

“We are just keeping our fingers crossed for the same thing to happen this time,” she said.

She also said the last time she heard her husband’s voice was when he had called from her sister’s residence in Rakiraki.

“They had planned with his friend Edward to go fishing near Yadua Island. When they reached my sisters place at Rakiraki they called to say that they have reached there safely and everything was alright,” she said.

“But till now there hasn’t been any call from the two of them.”

Mrs Naidu said fishing was their only source of income.

“Our family survives from the fish he sells and that is why we cannot stop him from going fishing,” she said.

Elenora Gerrish, wife of Edward Gerrish also believes her husband is safe on Yadua Island in Bua.

“Eddy takes one or two weeks when he goes fishing, so I think they are safe in Yadua,” she said.

“At the moment we are at peace and won’t jump into conclusion about anything. He is safe and we know that.”

Meanwhile the search for two fishermen of Volivoli, Rakiraki, Rajneel Reddy and Nigel Mani, who have been missing since January 1 has been called off temporarily due to adverse weather conditions.

Search is also continuing for Yakub Khan missing off the Tailevu coast near Naigani Island.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the search for the Rakiraki pair would continue when the weather improved

- Fiji Sun