Fire leaves Waidamudamu bridge in Labasa partially unusable

Residents of Vunimoli in Labasa are facing major disruptions to their daily commute following a fire that partially damaged the Waidamudamu Bridge on Sunday night.

The wooden bridge, located along Nakorotari Road, serves as a key access route for motorists and bus services travelling between Vunimoli, surrounding communities and Labasa Town.

When this newspaper visited the site today, the smell of kerosene was noticeable, and tyres bound together with steel wire were seen near the bridge, raising suspicions of possible arson.

Bus service provider Dalip Chand and Son Pte Limited managing director Rohinil Chand said while the incident was unfortunate, it also highlighted longstanding concerns about the condition of the bridge before the fire.

Mr Chand said residents had been forced to use a bridge that was allegedly in a deteriorated state, with damaged planks, broken side rails and sharp nails protruding from the wooden boards.

He said drivers had to cross the bridge cautiously on every trip because of the safety risks posed by its condition.

Despite the damage, bus services remain operational, although with additional effort. Two buses have been deployed on either side of the bridge. One transports passengers from various parts of Vunimoli to the bridge, where commuters must walk about 100 metres to board a second bus on the other side to continue their journey to Labasa Town.

Resident and bus commuter Filomone Masarau called on the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) to construct a new bridge instead of carrying out restoration works.

The 31-year-old crop farmer said the bridge had been destroyed by fire on several occasions in the past and urged authorities to implement a permanent solution.

He said younger or physically fit residents could manage crossing the damaged section to reach the second bus, but the situation posed serious challenges for elderly residents and senior citizens.

An FRA contractor, Fairdeal, was at the site yesterday, with workers cordoning off the burnt section using traffic cones. A worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were awaiting instructions from the FRA before starting any restoration work.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wame Bautolu confirmed that investigations were still in the initial stages.

Traffic access has been halted as the Vunimoli Bridge remains inaccessible, with police stationed at the scene on February 2, 2026.

Photo: Sampras Anand.

Sergeant Bautolu said no suspects had been questioned so far and police officers would remain stationed near the bridge until Monday night while investigations continued.

Korotari advisory councillor Satish Chand said residents from Korotari were also affected, as the bridge provided an important link to Labasa Town.

He said he had lodged multiple complaints with the FRA and the district office over the years, calling for a permanent bridge.

“Regardless of our requests, it is up to the FRA and the Government to make the right call. We are merely spectators, because our requests are hardly heard,” he alleged.

Mr Chand added that the bridge had been damaged by fire several times over the past few years.

An email was sent to the National Fire Authority (NFA) yesterday seeking details on the cause of the fire, but no response had been received by the time this edition went to press.

Residents cross the damaged Vunimoli Bridge in Labasa to catch a second bus to travel to Labasa Town on February 2, 2026.

Photo: Sampras Anand.

FRA response

In an email response, the Fiji Roads Authority said it would await the outcome of police investigations before commenting further.

Responding to claims that the bridge was in poor condition, the FRA said the structure had been maintained and was structurally sound.

“FRA conducted recent inspections and noted that the running boards were damaged due to extensive logging operations carried out in the area,” it said.

“The running boards were scheduled for replacement later this month.”

The FRA said there was no timeframe for when the bridge would be repaired to allow traffic to resume, but noted that alternative routes were available. These include access via the Nakorotari crossing towards Waikisi and Siberia Road, as well as through the Vunimoli feeder road towards Waidamudamu Road.