Heavy rain and flooding have once again cut off Buavou Village from essential services, with residents calling for urgent action after the only bridge linking the village to Seaqaqa was submerged.
A resident, Adi Maopa Taleimaibau, said the problem occurred every rainy season, leaving villagers isolated and placing lives at risk.
“When it rains, the bridge is completely underwater and our village is cut off from the outside world,” she said.
She said children faced difficulties getting to school, with some students forced to cross floodwaters in large pots.
Ms Taleimaibau said the situation had persisted for years despite repeated appeals to authorities.
“Enough is enough. Our people deserve safety,” she said.
“This is not a one-time problem. It happens every year. How long must our people suffer? Must a life be lost before action is taken?”
Villagers are now calling for the urgent construction of a new, flood-proof bridge to ensure safe access to education, healthcare and other essential services.
“Our children deserve safe access to school. The sick and elderly deserve safe access to healthcare. Our village deserves to be connected, not abandoned,” she said.
In response, the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) said ongoing wet weather had significantly affected road conditions in the Northern Division and across the country.
FRA said rural roads, flood-prone areas and low-level crossings had been impacted, with floodwaters and approach washouts making some crossings inaccessible.
Attempts to obtain comment from Infrastructure Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
