Ba highlands residents forced to evacuate as flash floods return

Residents in the upper Ba highlands are again counting losses after flash flooding hit several villages.

Toge Village was among those affected during the latest spell of heavy rain.

Farmer Robert Lui said the community had learned to live with recurring flooding because of its proximity to the Ba River.

“We are located next to the Ba River, which flows from the highlands. Floods come and go, but our resilience lies within us as individuals,” he said.

He added that farmers were alerted early enough to move their animals to higher ground.

Further downstream, floodwaters entered homes in Nasolo Village, forcing some families to move to evacuation centres. Litea Nasiga said it was disheartening to see flooding recur year after year.

“Homes in Karavi were also flooded with knee‑deep water. It is no joke, so we need to take the weather warnings seriously,” Netava Rakololiwa said.

The Sabeto riverbank also burst, flooding low‑lying areas including the Sabeto tank crossing, Wailoko and Natalau.

The Fiji Roads Authority said recent heavy rainfall had flooded several roads and crossings, making them inaccessible.

These include Kings Road at Tavua–Yaladro, Nabuna, Vatia Wharf Crossing 2, Qelela Crossing 1, Lubulubu Crossing, Katudrau, Waimari, Korotale and Naqoro Flats in Rakiraki.