The tropical depression that has brought widespread flooding over the past five days is now moving away from Fiji after intensifying and passing over Viti Levu.
Flooding in Savu Savu on Vanua Levu in Fiji. Photo: Supplied/Kolo Homelo
The depression had been moving slowly down the west coast but it changed direction and moved over Viti Levu last night.
Fiji Met Service forecaster Misaeli Funaki said it brought more intense rain and stronger winds.
"It doesn't have tropical cyclone intensity but with that being said, in terms of the wind speed, it could be packing as much as 30 knots close to the centre and some of the momentary gusts that it has can extend all the way up to 45 knots," he said.
So, as I said, although it is still a tropical depression it is literally very close to being a tropical cyclone so it almost packs as much wind as a category one system."
Flood warnings remain in place for much of the country especially for low lying areas.
Flooding along the Kings Highway in Savu Savu on Vanua Levu, Fiji. Photo: Supplied / Kolo Homelo
The village of Caulasi was cut off, its sugar cane fields drowned and crops ruined by floods.
An advisory councillor for the area Nila Rao said floodwaters up to four and a half metres deep swamped the cane fields and homes in low lying parts of the town which is near Rakiraki in the north of the main island, Viti Levu.
Flooding in Qauia village following heavy rain. Photo: Nancy Naqelevuki/Fiji Village
Ms Rao said the rain started at three on Sunday afternoon and floodwaters rose at high tide on Monday morning.
She said every house in the village of 560 people was damaged in Cyclone Winston earlier this year.
"We have not fully recovered after Cyclone Winston and then this flooding at the moment. And after Cyclone Winston we had drought so it was really very, very dry and after that drought we have this flooding now. People are really very upset. All of them."
Ms Rao said power was out and there was no way out because of the floods.
Villagers on Qamea evacuate due to massive landslide https://t.co/n9Wr2Mojz3 pic.twitter.com/GotmfkFpyX
— Fiji (@RRFiji) December 19, 2016
Villagers on the Fijian island of Qamea fled from their village which was engulfed by a huge landslide triggered by the heavy rain.
The nurse station, school and dam as well as houses in the 200 strong community of Dreketi were damaged when tonnes of earth slid down towards the sea's edge.
Qamea Resort and Spa owner Bryce Earwaker said it was a lucky escape for the village.
"I think it was the noise that probably alerted everybody, talking to the people that were there. They said the noise was like horrendous and woke up most people. Luckily no one was hurt."
Mr Earwaker said the villagers had moved to other parts of the island and neighbouring Taveuni.
He said it had been a tough year for the village which had waited a long time for aid after Cyclone Winston.
.@FijiRedCross spent today restocking branches as #TD04F caused widespread flooding across #Fiji. This truckload is bound for Lautoka. pic.twitter.com/NQOdVYaav2
— corinneambler (@corinneambler) December 16, 2016
The Fiji government said a team has been sent to the island to assess the landslide and distribute food rations and relief supplies.
Fiji Red Cross said the widespread flooding would almost certainly set back the recovery from Cyclone Winston.
Hundreds of Winston victims are still living in tents, and its director, Filipe Nainoca, said the flooding would hinder the rebuild.
"The areas that have already recovered and then now have to face the flooding, of course the recovery process will be affected. But we don't know how much or the total impact because of course it's still raining at the moment."
Once floodwaters recede, the priority would be to provide safe water and hygiene kits he said.
