Fiji authorities are searching for a man missing in Naitasiri as Tropical Cyclone Sarai continues to batter parts of the Fiji group.
It is believed the man was swept away by strong currents yesterday as he tried to cross a flooded river, according to FBC news.
The Fiji National Disaster Management Office reported one casualty in Kadavu yesterday.
BRIEFLY ON #TCSarai as of 8am (29/12/19)
— Fiji National Disaster Management Office (@FijiNDMO) December 28, 2019
1⃣ Casualty in Kadavu
1⃣ still missing in Vunidawa, Naitasiri
1⃣ in ICU at #CWM Hospital in Suva after sustaining injury from a fallen tree at Cunningham, Suva. Recovering.
7⃣0⃣ evacuation centres activated with 2⃣5⃣3⃣8⃣ evacuees. Hi Sun pic.twitter.com/96GMNv5zLU
The Fiji Meteorology Service said Tropical Cyclone Sarai will be hovering over Fiji for a while, and is expected to be in Tonga waters on New Years Eve.
It said the Category 2 storm continues to bring heavy rain and winds of upto 150 km/hr to the group.
The storm was about 100km Southeast of Kadavu or about 180km south-southeast of Suva at 6am, and is moving east at 10km/hr.
TC Sarai,Cat.2 was located near about 100km southeast of Kadavu or about 180km south-southeast of Suva at 6am today.Close to it's centre, the cyclone is expected to have average winds of upto 1120km/hr with momentary gusts to 150km/hr. The cyclone is moving east at about 10km/hr. pic.twitter.com/BbxNMlqc6f
— Metservice Fiji (@FJMETservice) December 28, 2019
Meanwhile, a man who was reported missing at sea in Lautoka was found in good health yesterday.
He was rescued by the Police Response Team in the Western Division after a member of the public found him with his fiberglass boat at Saweni, Lautoka.
Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has expressed his disappointment that some people continue to disregard the weather advisories and warnings.
"Such reckless behavior puts the lives of his officers at risk conducting search and rescue operations, he said."
"These are some of the things that are of great concern to us. We will not allow the deployment of our personnel in the height of the cyclone because people themselves are irresponsible. When we issued a warning prior to the Cyclone through the relevant authorities, yet people saw it fit for themselves during the cyclone to take such irresponsible actions," he said.
The public has been warned that people will be taken to task for disobedience of lawful order if they continue to disregard warnings and advisories.
