While the worst of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu has passed, business owners in the Western Division remain on edge, bracing for another severe system, Tropical Cyclone Maila, currently near the Solomon Islands.
In flood-prone Ba Town, concerns over rising floods continue to weigh heavily on operators. Vishals I.T Solutions Ba branch manager Monisha Sharma said preparations during TC Vaianu were already challenging.
“There was a hassle for us to put all the things up because there was a possibility of flooding,” she said, noting that frequent floods had forced them to stay ready.
Critical stock, including digital equipment and printers, was moved to higher ground to avoid losses.
With five branches across Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka and Sigatoka, the company has temporarily shut operations in three locations, keeping only Ba and Lautoka open.
Staffing has also been difficult, with transport issues and fuel shortages forcing management to arrange pickups for employees. Despite the strain, Ms Sharma stressed preparation was key to survival.
“If we don’t have items to sell, we don’t have a business,” she said.
Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila, a Category 4 system near Papua New Guinea, poses no direct threat to Fiji but remains under close watch.
