FIJI – Rakiraki Town residents have dubbed the recent flooding as the worst in more than a decade.

Michael Kumar, the owner of Chicken Masters, said most businesses in the town would have suffered extensive damage because of the flooding and recovery would be hard.

The entire town and the Naqoro flats were completely flooded after torrential rain from the recent tropical depression.

With the news of more rain anticipated for the group, Kumar said the only thing they could do was wait until the water receded.

“My family has been here for 15 years and we have never seen flooding like this,” he said.

“Right now everything is closed.”

Kumar and his family lived upstairs from their eatery in Rakiraki Town and like many others, were forced to the second level to wait for water levels to recede.

Another resident, Vikash Lal, said business would be gloomy particularly in the province because they had taken another hit with the first being Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

“I am a taxidriver and I know fully well that business will be slow,” he said.

“It’s almost Christmas and a lot of people will struggle to get things back in order after the flood.”

Lilly Vakaloloma, a resident of Naqoro flats, said a lot of people were surprised by the intensity of the flooding.

“It’s like we are looking out to sea the way the water has covered the town and the flat lands,” she said.

“Even our church the Seventh-day Adventist Church is covered in water and it’s surprising because the day before it was fine.”

Meanwhile, on the island of Qamea off the south coast of Taveuni, village leaders are looking at options to relocate Dreketi Village after villagers say they are “too terrified” to return after the massive landslide that struck on Sunday morning.

Tui Laucala, Ratu Laginikoro Dakuiyau said leaders of the vanua had met to discuss the issue.

Ratu Laginikoro said people whose homes were damaged were reluctant to return to the village.

He said they were still terrified from the horrific experience.

The chiefs have suggested moving the village to the nearby Vunidrala settlement as the best option.

“However, we will have to talk this over with government to seek their professional advice on the matter,” said Ratu Laginikoro.

Dreketi villager Makeireta Bale said people were terrified and did not want to return to their homes. The 72-year-old said most families residing in Natakala settlement outside the village were talking of relocating. - Fiji Times/PNC