Villagers in the Yasawas moved to higher ground on Saturday as huge swells battered the coastline from as early as 7am.
The strong winds and heavy rain associated with Tropical Depression 03F (which developed into Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Cody at 6am today) forecasted to affect most of the Yasawa Group, had been affecting villagers in Naviti district as of early Saturday.
District spokesperson Meciusela Vuli said he had received reports of large swells from villages located near the coastline and many had moved inland as a precautionary measure.
“They are not waiting for the winds to get stronger or for the tropical depression to turn into a cyclone,” Mr Vuli said.
“From this (Saturday) morning, we have been securing our homes and as soon as our homes were protected we started moving.
“We expect this weather at this time of the year so we all know what we need to do.”
Nacula district spokesperson Lavenia Naivalu said at around 2pm on Saturday, the weather situation had worsened.
“We heard in the news that it was going to be a tropical cyclone and people prepared themselves for it,” Ms Naivalu said.
“We have two evacuation centres and we have also activated Disaster Risk Management Committees in all of our seven villages.”
TC Cody was located about 235km Southwest of Kadavu and 320km South-southwest of Nadi at 9am today.
It is expected to be centered about 330km Southwest of Kadavu and about 380km South-southwest of Nadi by 9pm.
