16 Jan 2008

Residents in Fiji's north urged to seek refuge on higher ground due to flooding

10:30 am on 16 January 2008

Residents in Fiji's north are urged to seek refuge on higher ground after continuously wet weather caused flooding.

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in and around the town of Labasa.

The National Disaster Management Office director urges people to move to higher grounds or an evacuation centre if water has seeped into their homes.

Joeli Rokovada says it's not clear how many people are affected.

"Parts of the Labasa district are under water. At the moment three evacuation centres have been activated with close to 70 families. We don't have any information at the moment. That will depend on the field survey the commissioner of the Northern team are doing at the moment."

Joeli Rokovada says residents should try to stay out of the flood water to prevent an outbreak of water-borne diseases.

More rain is expected.