Boats washed ashore, seawater crashing onto high seawalls and disruption of the Suva bowling games are but some of the results of the coastal inundation and damaging swells yesterday morning.

From Suva’s shoreline, Cuvu to Kadavu, the King Tide combined with the low pressure system to the far south of Fiji were felt in most of the coast of Viti Levu and the maritime islands.

For Cuvu resident, Josh Ratukuna, knew something wasn’t right when he heard the waves crashing at around 3am yesterday.

Mr Ratukuna who lives at Navuevu Village in Sigatoka woke up to seawater flooding his compound.

Mr Ratukuna said sea water entered about three houses at Navuevu Village.

“Early this morning at around two or three, I heard the waves crashing and I knew it wasn’t normal,” he said.

“The last time this happened was in 2009.”

About 200 people resided in the village.

“I left for work at around 7.30am and the water was still coming in, it may have gone down later,” he said.

Resorts and hotels along the coastal areas were also impacted.

Kadavu

In the village of Tabuya, Kadavu, three homes were inundated with sea water.

Villagers woke up to see water flooding the village. Occupants of the flooded homes have moved to other houses on higher grounds.

Former village headman, Jone Cavalevu, said the heavy swells was something they had not seen in three years.

“We did not expect this to happen. We were caught off guard,” he said.

“Big waves normally are normally experienced in May and we thought it was over.”

Tabuya is one of the villages in Kadavu that is being threatened by the impact of climate change.

As a result, new houses are being built on higher grounds far away from the shoreline.

About three miles from the village is another village named Nasau that has been battering the impact of the heavy swells.

According to Maria Tuiwailevu, the waves have reached their main road which is about five meters away from the shoreline.

“We were woken by the loud bang coming from the beach,” she said.

She added that they have experienced bad weather too like heavy rainfall.

People from the two villages are preparing to move to higher grounds should the king tides hit them.

Suva

The Suva Bowling Club yesterday announced on its Facebook page that games for last night were cancelled because Greens 2 and 3 were covered with seawater and debris.

“We will be in touch with an update as soon as possible,” it said.

What the weather tells us

The coastal inundation warning was sent out by the Fiji Meteorological Office yesterday for coastal areas of the southern parts of Viti Levu, from Natadola through to the Coral Coast to Pacific Harbour.

The warning was also enforced for those residing in the southern coastal areas of the Mamanuca Group, Beqa, Kadavu, Vatulele, Southern Lomaiviti Group, the Moala Group, Southern Lau and  Central Lau Groups.

The weather office said the issue was because of a low pressure system that was to the far South of Fiji combined with the king tide that was directing damaging heavy swells over the southern parts of the Fiji waters.

“Those living along these coastal areas are advised to remain cautious and vigilant of coastal inundation of debris, especially during high tides,” said the weather office.

“Members of the public are advised to remain updated with the latest weather information.”

People can contact the National Weather Forecasting Centre on 6736006, 9905376, visit the Fiji Meteorological Service’s website, www.met.gov.fj, official Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram pages as well for the latest updates.

Feedback:  nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj