EROSION FORCES YAVUSANIA VILLAGERS TO RELOCATE
The visually impaired 80-year- old lives in constant fear that another flood will demolish his home.
Monday 14 February 2022 | 10:22
Meli Cabebula shows the eroded land at Yavusania Village in Nadi. Photo: Waisea Nasokia
The rain, flooding and soil erosion brought by TC Cody early last month have seen the relocation of homes in Yavusania Village, Nadi.
As rain continued over the past weeks in the Western Division, the decision to move became more definite.
Plantations which previously evaded the rising waters and were located at least 15 metres inland were wiped away in minutes.
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Apete Rokocoko, 67, used to plant cane on their three acres of land. It’s all gone.
“I had planted sugarcane over 20 years at that spot, when my dad was alive.
“During the flood, at night we could clearly hear the crashing of chunks of soil slipping into the river.
“I will surely pull out our house which has been built in the 1970’s by my father since I was in school. We will move to our land in Korovuto.”
For Kaminieli Sadrugu, the move to another location within the village boundary will be difficult.
The visually impaired 80-year- old lives in constant fear that another flood will demolish his home.
“I cannot see but I could feel what’s happening right now,” he said.
During TC Winston Mr Sadrugu’s home was partially ripped off.
Government had stepped in and helped rebuild his home.
This time around he has no choice but to move - with the help of the villagers.
A retired school teacher Meli Cabebula was in the process of dismantling his home when the Fiji Sun team visited the village.
He will be relocated to neighbouring Narewa Village.
“I retired in 2020 and used my Fiji National Provident Fund funds to build my house here. The flood last week made me think otherwise and to move out from here. We have been chased away due to this erosion,” he said.
Village headman Manoa Kagi said two homes were swept away last week. “These challenges have made the villagers work together to assist those who need to relocate rather than to wait around for outside assistance.”
He added that two families have begun building their home in Korovuto.
Meanwhile, a single wooden Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) power pole has been replaced after it got washed away during TC Cody.
It has been replaced 15 metres in- land from the previous location.
EFL engineers were present on site to assess the next plan of its relocation.
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