Drought-stricken people of Koro West in Lomaiviti say they welcome news of rain coming to the island.

Mata ni tikina (representative) Cawa villager, Epineri Qalibau, said from Koro they were delighted with the news of the rain.

“We have had little rain for the past four months and the big dry has hit our water sources and crops,” he said.

But the Director of Fiji Meteorology Services, Ravind Kumar, said a trough of low pressure would bring rain to the country.

Mr Kumar said: “The residents of Koro Island will also benefit from the trough as the rain will be throughout Fiji.

“This will relieve them from the dry season.”

The weather pattern is expected to intensify as it drifts closer to Fiji, with occasional rain becoming frequent and continuing through today and tomorrow, according to Mr Kumar.

He said: “There is a good chance that trough could deepen into a tropical low system as it passes over Fiji, and if this happens, rain is expected to continue through Tuesday and increases the chance of flooding.

“The trough has the potential to produce more than 100mm of rainfall over 24 hours which is likely to cause flash flooding and flooding of low lying areas due to localised heavy rain.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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