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Flooding in Fiji - Source: ONE News -
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Flood waters have forced the closure of the main road in Sigatoka on Fiji's Coral Coast.
There are reports that the area is experiencing heavy rain and police are advising people not to go there.
In Nadi, where many tourist resorts are located, heavy rain has washed away three bridges and one in Sabeto is under six metres of water.
Nadi hospital is unable to be reached by road.
A big problem spot is also the town of Labasa where flood waters are still rising.
The Assistant police spokesman says there are two metres of flood waters, as well as a complete blackout in the town.
The National Emergency Operation Centre expects the cleanup cost to exceed $15 million.
Programme manager Anthony Blake says the figures will increase once agricultural and road assessments come in. He says the cost to private businesses and homes has not been taken into account.
The Fijian government now offering a 200% tax deducation to anyone donating to its rehabilitation fund. But that is little comfort to the 6000 or more Fijians in temporary shelters.
Fiji has declared a state of emergency and imposed curfews to stop looting.
The death toll from the downpours in the islands is at seven and is expected to rise as relief teams are able to get to some of the cut off villages.
Red Cross workers finally reached isolated villages on tuesday
and say there are whole villages under water.
Fijians have been told to move to higher ground before more wet
weather arrives in the next 24 to 48 hours to cause flash
flooding.
"The rain has been falling for the last week and the soil has become soft now and I think it is better for those staying in those areas to move to a safe area," says Superintendent Erami Raibe, Fiji police.
The country's Western Division is worst hit, with more heavy rain on the way and looking likely to continue into next week. The flood in some areas is six metres deep.
Fijians paddled makeshift bamboo rafts along flooded streets, ferrying people and food, while four wheel drive cars ploughed through towns inundated with deep floodwaters and villagers on foot carried stranded animals to safety.
The flooding has resulted in more than 6,000 people fleeing their homes and seeking refuge at evacuation centres set up by Fiji's National Disaster Management Centre around the islands, where food is being rationed and there are attempts to get water reconnected.
The shortage of fresh water means people are finding food where they can and drinking from the dirty river, sparking fears of disease.
Health officials are warning of risks such as typhoid and other
diseases related to contaminated water.
Fiji's Disaster Management Committee says it will be distributing
water purification tablets and equipment to affected areas.
Principal Disaster Management Officer Patiliai Dobui, says people are being urged to collect rain water for drinking.
Dobui says those who do not have the tablets should take precautions by boiling their water.
Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama declared a state of emergency at the weekend and curfews were imposed in some areas to prevent looting after days of heavy rains in the country's west.
Meanwhile, another deluge is poised to hit Fiji on Thursday and police are urging people to look out for each other and sit tight.
Flood Victim appeal
Radio Apna is running an appeal for victims for 54 hours from 6pm Monday January 12 until midnight Wednesday January 14. To call in and pledge money, people can ring 8362990 or 8367990
To deposit money directly into a relief fund account it is:
BNZ
02-0108-0043563-01
The money collected will be distributed from Radio Apna's Fiji office in Lautoka to the victims affected by the floods.
A Fiji Relief Account has also been set up at the ANZ Bank. You can donate at any branch.
