16 Dec 2009

Thousands remain in evacuation centres in Fiji after Cyclone Mick

11:14 am on 16 December 2009

About three-thousand people remain in evacuation centres in Fiji following Cyclone Mick, including 2-thousand evacuated last night when the Rewa River flooded.

Fiji's Disaster Management Office says 51 evacuation centres were opened when the Rewa Delta area flooded despite good weather last night.

Nausori airport was also closed.

The office's acting director Pajilai Dobui says most people should be able to return home when the water recedes.

"According to those living around the area this morning the water is still there and we are hoping that by low tide today it should recede. Surveillance and assessment teams are still out, unfortunately for Rewa that will continue again today because of the inaccessibility of some of the roads as well as some of the islands can only be reached by air or by sea."

Pajilai Dobui says the majority of the rest of those who remain evacuated following Cyclone Mick are in the central and western divisions.

He says the death toll remains at three, with two fishermen still missing.

He says 10 percent of power remains out in Viti Levu, and one road remains closed.