Transcript
In the town of Rakiraki in the north of Viti Levu, locals are saying it's the worst flooding they've ever seen. The town was underwater after an intense tropical depression swept over the country in the past few days. A local advisory councillor Nila Rao says shopkeepers weren't expecting the water from the nearby river to rise as high as it did and left their stock on the shelves. She says a lot of their stock's been destroyed.
"All the frozen items they are damaged and I don't know what our Christmas will be like because this is the time when we actually come out to do our shopping. I talked to the CEO of the town council and he said it will take a bit of time for the shopkeepers to get back on track. Most of their things are damaged."
There have been no deaths reported but stories are filtering out of some lucky escapes, including a disabled man trapped in his home who neighbours heard calling for help.
"When the people went to his place, the water was up to their chest. He suffered from stroke. They had to carry him about one and half kilometres from his place to the nearest home where they could take him too."
The chairman of the Rakiraki Advisory Council Pandit Jayant Maharaj has been out on foot checking the damage in the Rakiraki area which was one of those worst hit by Cyclone Winston in February. He says delayed building works have been set back further after stacked material was washed away in floodwater. He says crops, livestock, schools and homes have suffered.
"The houses which haven't been completed were all underwater. The rain came in and had many landslides nearby the houses. the Roads have been blocked."
On the other side of Viti Levu on an island in the Rewa River delta, villagers were able to get to the mainland when their pleas for help were answered. On Tuesday they found themselves cut off because of the floods. But that didn't stop the Muana Village choir from gathering for a Christmas sing along that evening. The Fiji government says it is too early to declare a disaster in the wake of the flooding despite calls by opposition parties. The Minister for Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu says any action will be dictated by assessments being carried out now. He says food security may not be as serious an issue as first thought.
"Water came up quickly and then it receded quickly as well but some areas it stayed for more than 48 hours. Agriculture are doing their assessments and that will also determine the long term plans that we have and at the same time we are also preparing to distribute seedlings and cutting materials as well."
Teams from the Fiji Red Cross have also been out across Fiji checking on what relief people need.
"Based on the assessment there's a huge need in hygiene kits, dry clothes, probably drinking water and also spare blankets just to keep evacuees warn who are still in evacuation centres. If we need international assistance or donations from overseas then definitely we will be seeking that through the International federation of the Red Cross."
Nila Rao says around Rakiraki food rations may be needed as many crops have been ruined.
