Jijiwa Bera remembers being forced to evacuate his family home three years ago when Tropical Cyclone Winston was approaching.

He relived those memories yesterday after big waves struck the shoreline near his home, just a few feet away from the sea, on Korova Settlement along Nasese’s Queen Elizabeth Drive.

“It’s like 2016 all over again. I remember how perilous the waves looked during Winston,” said Bera.

“I was standing right in the middle of the settlement and watched the wave come crushing to our houses during that cyclone.”

The Fiji Met offices says that strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of Fiji. A heavy rain warning remains in force for Vanua Levu,Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti group,Eastern half of Viti Levu and Kadavu.

Persistent heavy rains from the cyclone has caused widespread flooding across the country.

Mr Bera and 61 other evacuees from the coastal settlement are still at Draiba Primary School after being evacuated there on Friday afternoon.

“For me I will never forget the events of that day and even today whenever there is a cyclone warning we evacuate as soon as possible to avoid any destruction.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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