A heavy rain shower that lasted no more than an hour caused flooding in the low-lying areas of Nasese in Suva yesterday.
Flood waters inundated homes on Gardiner Road, Tokelau Street and Evelyn Place, alongside and adjacent to Nasova Creek.
The heavy rain caused by an afternoon shower associated with the trough of low pressure that remains slow moving over the group, as stated by the Fiji Meteorological Service.
Resident Jannett Handyside said it was the first time in the three years she and her family have lived in Nasese the water had risen so fast and so high.
“We didn’t get any water in the house thankfully but the rest of the houses were not so lucky,” Ms Handyside said.
Directly across the street lives Lepani Kolinisau who has lived in Nasese since December 2013.
He says the problem started when a mangrove forest that bordered the residential area and the Veiuto Parliament complex was cleared and the area reclaimed for a proposed gated, luxury residential development.
Anish Reddy lost a television set worth $3000 when about six inches of water inundated his flat on Tokelau Street.
“This is the first time water has come inside the house and it is because of the development across the creek,” Mr Reddy said.
“They blocked the creek to dig a storm drain and now the natural flow the creek usually takes has been disrupted.”
