Naitasiri farmers with their produce stopped by flooding

Hundreds of people were yesterday stranded at Naqali District School as floodwaters caused by heavy rain on Monday night swept through the roads.

Market vendors from Lomaivuna, Serea, Vunidawa and other villages in the highlands of Naitasiri, who came with their farm produce in their carriers, were unable to cross as the road had been flooded.

Fiji Ports Terminal IT co-ordinator, Maika Tauribau, who travels daily from Naqali, was among those who were stranded at the bridge at the school.

“I left home at 6.30am and now it’s after 1pm and we are still stranded here. Only four-wheel drives can cross over to get to their destination,” Mr Tauribau said.

“Market vendors from the highlands have gotten off the carrier and carried their farm produces across floodwaters to go and sell them.”

Meanwhile, some who were travelling towards Naqali Village from Nausori had to return because of the flash flooding.

“If it continues to rain again then the water will not recede,” Mr Tauribau said.

Edited by Filipe Naigulevu

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