Fiji flood areas declared disaster zones

Dominique Schwartz and staff

Last Updated: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:24:00 +1100

Flooded areas in the west of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu have been declared natural disaster zones.

The declaration is effective for fifteen days unless the interim government revokes it earlier.

The death toll from the floods has risen to six after a family of four were killed by a landslide, triggered by the heavy rain.

The permenant secretary of Fiji's Ministry of Provinvial Development, Inia Seruiratu, says the government is doing its best to get necessary supplies to everyone in need.

"There's still fast-flowing currents in a few areas again there are problems with landslide is some of the main access roads".

However we are also ass by Fiji Red Cross and other organisations are available, it is a collective effort we are co-ordinating all of the assistances, however as much as we want to get to all of the people in some of the remote areas we still have difficulties".

Flood appeal

Fijian interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has launched a flood relief appeal to assist families affected by the flooding on the Western side of Viti Levu.

Seventy-four evacuation centres across the country are housing close to three and a half thousand people.

There have been six confirmed casualties.

Family killed

Reports from Fiji say the death toll from heavy flooding has risen after a landslide killed a family of four.

Local media reports suggest a husband, his wife, and their two daughters were trapped inside their home by the landslide in Ba on the island of Viti Levu.

The western side of the island, including the popular tourist area around Nadi, has been hit by severe flooding.

The Fiji Red Cross says the rain is beginning to ease this morning and flood levels are falling in Nadi.

But Red Cross disaster coordinator Eseloma Ledau says teams are still trying to reach the site of the landslide.

More rain is forecast in coming days and authorities will meet this morning to again consider whether to declare a state of disaster.

Weather forecast

Fiji's interim government says it appears floodwaters have peaked and are falling around Nadi and other regions of western Viti Levu.

But the Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith-Johns, says the government is still not ruling out declaring a state of disaster.

Two farmers have died in the floods which have put large areas of western Viti Levu under water.

Around 2,000 people have taken refuge in evacuation centres.

Ms Smith-Johns says an assessment is being made of the damage and further risk.

"The good news is that because the rain has stopped this morning, the rivers are subsiding a little, but the forecast is for more bad weather to move in," she said.

She says the airport is open and tourist hotels are operating in the popular area of Denarau, though some guests have had to enter and exit the area by helicopter or boat.

Flood aid

Fiji Red Cross workers are attempting to access those affected by floods in the country's Western Division.

The areas worst hit are Nadi and Ba, with heavy rain forecast for Wednesday.

The news director for Fiji Village, Vijay Narayan, has told Radio Australia the Red Cross will be distributing emergency kits to people who need it.

"Well there is an issue, whether though even officials cannot move in, floodwaters as high as five, six feet and officials do not want to risk going into those areas," he said.

"But the Fiji Red Cross decided to go out to the areas only where they can gain access to."