47 Families Evacuated from Floods in Tavua

Forty-seven families in Tavualevu Village, Tavua, are sheltering in evacuation centres as heavy rain caused flash floods across the Western Division.

Titilia Raibe Tamailebo, 45, and her family are among those evacuated and they had not slept well since Thursday because of their properties and farm.

“Our farm is destroyed, all our mattresses are wet and have all drifted away,” Ms Tamailebo said.

“After 9am today (Friday), we started moving our essential items and the rest of our family members to the Tavua District School evacuation centre,” she said.

“I’m just glad I was quick enough to move my washing machine and my fridge, other than that, we have no electricity and a few kitchen appliances.”

The Tamailebo family house is among the few houses that are located on the lower part of the village, leaving them exposed to impacts of the rising water level from the Nasivi River.

Village headman- Emosi Vueti

Flash flooding in the village is a common occurrence, said one of the village headmen, Emosi Vueti.

“This year the village experienced multiple flash-floods, especially during constant heavy rain,” he said.

“People in the village are not surprised anymore because they know how to deal with such situations. The problem is the Nasivi River which has continuously become shallow because of sediments from the Vatukoula River that settle on the riverbed.”

Mr Vueti is calling on Government’s help to excavate the river before flooding becomes worse.

“Multiple conversations have been made with the Minister for Housing, Maciu Nalumisa and other government organisations about our cry for help,” he said.

“But it will all be in vain if Government doesn’t do anything.”

Ms Tamailebo is pleading for assistance in providing mattresses and other stuff they lost during the flood.

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