The massive landslide at Veisari along the Queens Rd outside Lami cut off access to the Capital City for thousands of people yesterday morning.
As those tasked to clear the landslide got on with the work of opening up the highway for commuters, there would have to be some concern over the state of events.
As Elena Dovarua, whose home sits very close to the landslide, said, it happened because of the heavy rainfall on Monday night.
“I think the landslide must have occurred around 3am. “We are lucky that it didn’t affect us,” Ms Dovarua said.
This was the second major landslide that occurred at the site, she said, pointing out one that happened last year.
What will raise some concern is her next comment though.
“We only managed to find out about the landslide this morning when my children woke up and saw the trucks on the road.”
This is the frightening reality of natural disasters.
Landslides happen. They are a fact of life in parts of the country. They happen because of various reasons.
The general perception, at least to a certain extent, is that mother nature can be cruel at times.
Whatever our take is on mother nature though, we have the ability to make a difference.
Preparation, understandably, is a critical element.
Let’s be realistic and accept the fact that landslides, especially the one at Veisari, isn’t something that just popped out of the woodworks.
As people who live in a country that has a cyclone period annually, flash floods, and heavy rain, we have the benefit of experience and exposure to natural disasters on our side.
Complacency can be a major obstacle. It dumps us into a mistaken sense of security.
Yesterday’s landslide is expected to raise important questions about whether we have a system or process in place to identify landslide hazard zones and take into consideration factors such as infrastructure development, new constructions and our growing population.
The fact that the landslide at Veisari wasn’t the first will raise the issue of whether more should be done to ensure the safety of residents there, and commuters passing through the area daily, especially when one considers the fact that this is the preferred highway linking Suva to the western parts of Viti Levu?
How safe are residents living next to the landslide zone?
The weatherman tells us that a trough of low pressure with associated cloud and showers remain slow moving over Fiji.
In its weather bulletin yesterday afternoon, the National Weather Forecasting Centre in Nadi says this is anticipated to affect the group until the weekend.
The forecast to midnight today for the Fiji Group is for occasional showers, heavy at times and few thunderstorms over
Northern Vanua Levu, Kadavu, Lau and the Lomaiviti Group, the eastern parts and interior of the other larger islands.
It has also forecast showers and thunderstorms especially in the afternoon or evening elsewhere. We can also expect isolated heavy falls.
While we hope there is no need to worry, let us heed weather warnings and take appropriate action.
