Businesses in Suva had to close for a short while yesterday after a nationwide tsunami warning.

Suva Retailers Association secretary Selva Reddy said Suva needed more effective measures to counter the threat of a tsunami.

Mr Reddy said the tsunami warning had forced most businesses to close, fearing for their lives and those of their customers.

“We had to close for the short period of time the warning was issued, because the lives of the people are paramount,” he said.

“It would help if we had a siren for the low-lying areas in the Capital City. This would help alert people during a tsunami warning.”

Most shops in Sigatoka were also closed after the tsunami warning was issued.

Sigatoka Town Council chief executive Tulsi Ram said shopkeepers did not want to risk their lives because the warning alarmed the public.

He said: “People decided to close their shops after hearing the warning especially since they had a short time to evacuate.”

Shops remained closed despite the warning being cancelled.

However, businesses in inland Nadi areas remained open.

Most shopkeepers said they decided to continue their business as usual because they did not feel any tremor.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake which triggered the warning was located 303km Southwest of Suva and 237km Southwest of Nadi at 10:53am yesterday.

Edited by: Farzana Nisha