Vatukarasa villagers call for seawall as rising seas threaten homes

Families in Vatukarasa Village, Komave, Nadroga, are living under constant threat from rising sea levels, with cyclones and high tides continuing to damage homes, farmlands and livelihoods.

Vatukarasa Women's Club leader Lavenia Vasuinubu, 65, who is originally from Vatulele and married into the village, said the community faced serious challenges whenever severe weather struck because there was no seawall to protect it from the ocean.

She said seawater flowed into the village during cyclones and periods of high tide, flooding surrounding areas and destroying crops that many families depended on for food and income.

"Food crops and vegetables in our farms are destroyed when seawater enters inland," Ms Vasuinubu said.

The repeated flooding has left villagers worried about their future as farms continue to suffer extensive damage from saltwater intrusion.

Ms Vasuinubu said this had threatened food security and placed additional financial pressure on families.

For years, the community has called for assistance, urging Government to help build a seawall that would protect the village from the increasing impacts of coastal erosion and rising sea levels.

Resident Meli Tawake said urgent action was needed to safeguard homes, protect farmland and strengthen the community's resilience against climate-related disasters.

"We plead with Government to step in and help us protect the future of Vatukarasa," Mr Tawake said.