Christmas carols helped villagers in Fiji's Rewa River delta get through as floodwaters churned around them on Tuesday evening.
Toga Island was cut off as the river, one of Fiji's largest, rose well above normal, cutting off road access.
After six days of rain the villagers made a plea for help as their supplies ran low.
Bale Bulimaivale of Muana village, one of three villages on the island which accommodates 1000 people, said a boat finally came to their rescue and people were able to get to town for supplies.
She said despite the dire situation the Muana village choir gathered on Tuesday night to sing Christmas carols.
Villagers from Muana, Toga island, in Fiji's Rewa River delta, sing Christmas carols surrounded by floodwaters, December 2016 Photo: Supplied/Bale Bulimaivale
In the town of Rakiraki, in the north of Viti Levu, locals said it was the worst flooding they had ever seen.
The town was underwater after the intense tropical depression which swept over the country this week.
A local advisory councillor Nila Rao said shopkeepers weren't expecting the water from the nearby river to rise as high as it did and they left their stock on the shelves.
"All the frozen items they are damaged and I don't know what our Christmas will be like because this is the time when we actually come out to do our shopping.
"I talked to the CEO of the town council and he said it will take a bit of time for the shopkeepers to get back on track. Most of their things are damaged."
Flooding in downtown Rakiraki. Photo: Fiji Village/Ehh Mele
No deaths have been reported but stories are filtering out of some lucky escapes, including a disabled man trapped in his home who neighbours heard calling for help.
"When the people went to his place, the water was up to their chest. He suffered from stroke. They had to carry him about one and half kilometres from his place to the nearest home" said Ms Rao.
With some roads impassable, the chairman of the Rakiraki Advisory Council Pandit Jayant Maharaj went out on foot checking the damage in the Rakiraki area which was one of those worst hit by Cyclone Winston in February.
He said delayed repair works have been set back further after new building material stacked by some damaged houses, waiting for carpenters, was washed away in the floods.
He said crops, livestock, schools and homes have suffered.
"The houses which haven't been completed were all underwater. The rain came in and had many landslides nearby the houses. the roads have been blocked."
The Fiji government said it was too early to declare a disaster in the wake of the flooding despite a call by the opposition National Federation Party..
The Minister for Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu, said any action would be dictated by assessments being carried out now.
He said food security might not be as serious an issue as first thought.
"Water came up quickly and then it receded quickly as well but some areas it stayed for more than 48 hours. Agriculture are doing their assessments and that will also determine the long term plans that we have and at the same time we are also preparing to distribute seedlings and cutting materials as well."
Waivou Village in Rewa Province, Fiji was flooded for a week during floods in December 2016. A Fiji Red Cross team is seen here helping to assess the village's needs. Photo: Fiji Red Cross
Eseroma Ledua from the Fiji Red Cross said his teams had also been out across Fiji checking on what relief people need.
"Based on the assessment there's a huge need in hygiene kits, dry clothes, probably drinking water and also spare blankets just to keep evacuees warn who are still in evacuation centres.
"If we need international assistance or donations from overseas then definitely we will be seeking that through the International federation of the Red Cross," said Mr Ledua.
