The Government through the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management is closely working with the Fiji Meteorological Services (FMS) as we continue to monitor the adverse weather affecting parts of the Western Division.
Minister for Disaster Management, Honourable Sakiasi Ditoka, confirms that he has been fully briefed by the NDMO team and teams on the ground are continuously providing updates to the senior management about the situation in the West. He is on a tour of Vanua Levu at present, visiting victims of TC Yasa and Ana at Nabavatu who are still dwelling in a tent village for almost two years now as well as other areas of concern for the Ministry.
“Our Western team is ably led by the Commissioner Western Division Apolosi Lewaqai and he and his team had been closely monitoring the situation in the past couple of days. I have complete trust in the officials of my ministry and I intend to let them do what they are entrusted to do. They had conducted visitations to some of our flood prone communities in the West and I am relieved to confirm that there has only been reports of minimal damage. Our team has also been in constant discussion with Director Meteorological Services and his team with regards to the possible impacts as we continue to prepare for worst case scenarios accordingly, and on our return from Vanua Levu tomorrow, I intend to make a visit to our Western Division for an on-site brief by the Commissioner Western Division and his team as soon as I return from Vanua Levu,” Mr Ditoka said.
In the Western Division, there have been reports of flash flooding in the past few days.
Director NDMO Vasiti Soko says these affected communities were identified as “low-lying” and “prone” to flooding in any event of heavy rainfall in the past.
“In light of the adverse weather currently affecting parts of the West, as usual practice, the NDMO alongside the Divisional Commissioners are monitoring the situation and will scale up our efforts should the need arise. So far the only report of damage we have received is the Nalotawa Road in Ba which is in danger of slipping. As confirmed by the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) chief executive officer (CEO) – the road is still open with single lane traffic. Caution signs haves also been installed to warn commuters. FRA will be verifying the cause of slip once the weather clears, and also carry out remedial measures,” Ms Soko said.
Based on reports from Commissioner Western and his team on the ground, the NDMO has confirmed that no evacuation centre (EC) had been activated since reports of flash flooding in the West were received. However, the NDMO continues to work with the Ministry of Education to have school buildings ready should the need to activate any EC arises.
Ms Soko added that, “The NDMO has also been receiving community reports from the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) and is pleased to confirm that they have reported the same – no major damages on the ground.”
The NDMO will continue to advise members of the public on actions to take to avoid loss of lives in future disasters.