Opposition calls for disaster zone declarations

FIJI – It didn’t reached cyclone status but Tropical Depression 04F has created havoc in Fiji.

Emergency authorities have warned that it could take days for water levels in major rivers to fall, after widespread flooding.

Many parts of the country are covered in water after torrential rains which also caused landslides.

The authorities are still warning communities near the Rewa River to move to higher ground or to the nearest evacuation centre as the river continues to rise.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said the river on the outskirts of the capital Suva on the main island of Viti Levu had “surpassed warning levels”.

The NDMO advisory, issued on Tuesday afternoon, said the evacuation was being coordinated by police, military forces and disaster management officials.

Meanwhile, the weather picture in Fiji has improved after days of torrential rain and widespread flooding caused by a tropical depression that was threatening to turn into a cyclone.

Neville Koop, from the Na Draki Weather Service, said the storm finally appeared to be heading away from Fiji and the focus was now on coping with residual flooding.

Large parts of Fiji remain underwater and many people have taken refuge in evacuation centres after their towns and villages were inundated.

Koop said while the weather was improving large amounts of water were still draining into rivers from the highlands.

“It will probably take another 24 to 36 hours for the rivers to start to drop and there will be a gradual drying out of the areas that are flooded,” he said.

“But it will take time and we still can expect to see dangerous floodwaters around parts of the country.”

Suva resident Sakiusa Bolaira said people were welcoming the reprieve from the rain, but they were still watching anxiously for the water to subside.

“There are some really dangerous rivers, a lot of people are living close to the river, especially through Nadi town, Ba and Rakiraki and those areas on the western side,” he said.

“In Suva on Monday afternoon, we thought there was a full-blown cyclone coming through the capital.

“But Tuesday afternoon there is wonderful sunshine in the Suva area but in the West, we are still receiving a lot of reports of flooding.”

People are being warned to stay safe and not go near floodwaters.

“The water will still be fast moving in places, so it is wise to stay away from flooded rivers and drains for the next day or so,” Koop said.

“I just don’t think it’s going to get better very quickly, particularly the larger rivers like the Rewa River, and the areas that are affected from Nausori Town downstream.”

Koop said while the floodwaters would gradually start to recede from Tuesday, there was likely to be widespread damage.

“There’s a lot of water logged lands, a lot of areas that are farmlands are going to be under water for some time,” he said.

“There will be a lot of crops that are lost and going to be rotting in the fields.”

Fiji’s National Federation Party has called on the government to declare a disaster for parts of Fiji badly affected by floods.

The opposition party said this would enable people to get immediate government assistance.

The NFP said Rakiraki, parts of Qamea which has been hit by landslides, and other areas should be declared disaster zones.

The party said there should be rehabilitation packages for crop and house damage and it’s called for army engineers to clean up, distribute rations and repair badly damaged infrastructure.

It said the town and district of Ra has suffered millions of dollars worth of damage.

The NFP said MPs and cabinet ministers should authorise ten percent of their salaries to go towards relief efforts. - PNC