Students Miss School, Heavy Downpour Causes Flooding
According to the Fiji Meteorological Services, there was a strong wind warning for the southwest of Viti Levu waters. This included the Kadavu, Lau, Yasawa and Mamanuca waters.
Wednesday 27 April 2022 | 10:45
Nabukavesi villagers crossing through the flooded road to get to the Queens Highway on April 26, 2022. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Many students in Nabukavesi Village, Namosi had to miss school yesterday after a nearby river burst its bank.
The rise in water levels was caused by the heavy downpour experienced around Fiji the previous night.
Sawe Lio, 30, who lives near the river, said students could not cross over because it was not safe.
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“There are about 40 secondary school students who go in and out of this road, but some parents decided not to risk it by letting them cross the submerged road,” he said.
“We do not know what is in the water as there can be sharp objects that can hurt a person.”
Mr Lio said the flooding of the road has been an issue for a long time.
“Every time there is a heavy downpour, we know that this road will get flooded.
“Sometimes we use our fibreglass boats to carry people across.”
He said their village hall was ready to be opened as an evacuation centre if bad weather continued.
“There are four houses beside the river that are always on alert in case the need to move arises,” he said.
According to the Fiji Meteorological Services, there was a strong wind warning for the southwest of Viti Levu waters. This included the Kadavu, Lau, Yasawa and Mamanuca waters.
There is also a trough of low pressure that lies over the central parts of the country causing heavy rainfall.
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