13 Feb 2007

Fiji flood waters recede

2:41 pm on 13 February 2007

Flood waters in Fiji's west and north have begun receding but some roads are still closed and people remain cut off.

At least a dozen roads on the island of Vanua Levu are still under water and closed to all traffic.

The Sigatoka Valley Road is closed because of flooding and landslides, and people living in the upper reaches of the valley have been isolated for two days.

Two evacuation centres in Sigatoka are still sheltering people who were forced to flee their homes on the outskirts of the town in the face of rising water levels yesterday.

Water levels in the badly flooded Nadi Town and surrounding roads and bridges remain high, preventing disaster officials from carrying out any assessment of damage.

Rain is still heavy over the hills in the interior of the main islands although it has eased slightly elsewhere.

Some schools in flood affected areas opened today but most remained closed.

The interim cabinet will meet today to decide what help it can offer to people in Vanua Levu who were hit by another flood only a week ago.