Image of TD03F over Fiji Photo: Fiji Meteorological Service
A man has drowned in Fiji while attempting to cross a flooded river as bad weather associated with a tropical depression continues to slam parts of Fiji.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said the 35 year-old man from the western town of Tavua was swept away while trying to cross a flooded river.
The office and the Meteorological Service expects thousands more who live in Fiji's main island Viti Levu could be in danger as major waterways record increasing water levels, and river banks burst.
Fiji Meteorological Services Director, Terry Atalifo said tropical depression (TD03F) which is slow moving to the west of Fiji should become a cyclone later this morning, warning that the weather system would bring excessive rainfalls.
"Since it's going to remain to the west of us the convergence zone and the rain bands will continue to bring rain across the whole country in the next few days.
Therefore, we have a heavy rain warning for the whole of Fiji. We also have flash flood warning for all low lying areas or areas that are prone to flooding across the whole country," he said.
Severe Weather Update
— Fiji Meteorological Service (@FJMETservice) January 9, 2022
Tropical Depression TD03F was located about 195 kilometres southwest of Viwa and 210 kilometres west-southwest of Nadi at 3pm today.
TD03F is moving east towards Fiji at about 18 kilometres per hour.
For more information: https://t.co/KeqBY4IekC pic.twitter.com/y4Mz9akqdE
The Fiji Meteorological Service said more flooding continues to be of major concern to us.
It has issued gale warnings for popular tourist hotspots, the Yasawa and the Mamanuca group of islands.
TD03F Evacuation Centre Update as at 8pm today
— Fiji NDMO (@FijiNDMO) January 9, 2022
➡️3️⃣0️⃣ active ECs
2️⃣8️⃣ in the Western Division
2️⃣ in the Northern Division
➡️2️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ evacuees
Link ⬇️ for Updated EC List:https://t.co/EsIF5CsYay
Contact #NFA on 910 or #Police on 917 for assistance to move‼ pic.twitter.com/YYgskOgGs5
Please stay away from flooded rivers, Fiji's National Disaster Management Office
The NDMO Director, Vasiti Soko, she has seen pictures circulating on social media of people disregarding advisories and continue to cross and swim in flooded waters.
And it saddens me to announce that we have recorded our first fatality of (TD03F).
"The statistics have shown that a majority of deaths recorded during natural disasters are drowning as a result of people crossing flooded rivers and streams," she said.
Ms Soko said the government's national emergency operations centre was in 24 hour operation adding its main focus was getting people out of harm's way.
Fifteen roads closed, floods block access to main #EnergyFiji lines which power the west. Water supply interrupted to a number of areas Fiji wide. Activate your personal, family and community emergency plans, we will have a cyclone in as little as 6 hours: @FijiNDMO #fijinews pic.twitter.com/qwab3ZU5WL
— Lice Movono (@LiceMovono) January 9, 2022
