Floodwaters hit homes, farms, roads, bridges and closed Rakiraki town as heavy rain struck the West again.

Naqoro Flat in Rakiraki was under water and vehicle movement was restricted.

Rakiraki Town has been going through one of its worst periods of wet spells since last December with the municipality closing down for business. It happened again yesterday.

When the Fiji Sun team visited the area, light traffic had converged on Korotale Road and only buses, trucks and four wheel drive vehicles were able to make it into the town.

People who were in town before the floodwaters came had to wade across the flooded flat to reach the Kings Road end. In Tavua, Nabuna Village was once again cut off from the Kings Highway as floodwaters around Yaladro made their way towards the sea, where the village is situated.

Villagers could be seen walking in waist deep water along the road leading to the village.

The Ba River had swelled up and small stream had overflowed onto the main roads.

In Lautoka, interior crossings like the ones leading to Vakabuli Paipai were once again under water and at least one was expected to be washed away.

At Natabua seaside in Lautoka, Arvind Kumar, 41, a tile layer, said his home was  flooded because of poor drainage.

He said he had lived in the area for more than three decades but this flood was terrible.

Dharam Lingam, 47 said the recent drainage made by the council had forced the rising water from the nearby creek into their compounds and even into eight homes.

Lautoka City Council chief executive officer Jone Nakauvadra said: “We have made all the alternative drainage in those areas to assist them but during heavy downpour water converges at those areas and which always causes flooding.

“The long-time solution is to raise their homes otherwise they simply have to relocate because that area is a low lying area.” Minister for Local Government Parveen Bala said: “There was heavy downpour in the western division and low lying areas had flash-flooding. Low lying areas will be flooded obviously.”

Meanwhile, rain is expected to ease in most parts of the country today.

Director Meteorology Ravind Kumar said the low pressure system was moving away from the group and a depression near Tonga posed no threat to Fiji.

The weather bulletin Issued from the National Weather Forecasting Centre Nadi at 3:30pm yesterday said the low pressure with cloud and rain over Fiji was expected to affect the group till today.

The forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji Group noted rain was expected to ease from yesterday to showers later today.

The outlook for tomorrow is occasional showers and few thunderstorms over eastern Viti Levu, Lomaiviti and southern Lau Group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.

Elsewhere, showers are expected especially in the afternoon or evening.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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