4 Apr 2012

More flooding a risk in Fiji

9:20 pm on 4 April 2012

Fiji's Met Service says the risk of further flooding is still very much a concern.

Five people are dead as a result of severe flooding, which hit the Western Division the hardest, and up to 11,000 people are in evacuation centres.

Director of the Fiji Metservice Alipate Waqaicelua says most parts of Fiji are still getting rain.

He says it does not take long, especially for the low-lying areas in the Western Division, to become flooded again.

Alipate Waqaicelua says the rain is coming in bands, so there are breaks in between the showers.

Meanwhile the Red Cross in Fiji says it believes the country has experienced its worst ever flooding.

Acting director-general of Fiji's Red Cross Christopher Ho says it is hard to tell the true extent of the damage until floodwaters fully recede.

He says with the ground still very wet, the concern is that just half a day of rain is needed before flooding will reach worrying levels.

Mr Ho says in addition, food supplies are low, partly because crops have been destroyed in the floods.

Relief agencies in Fiji are working around the clock to provide for the 11,000 forced into evacuation centres from the floods.

Disaster Management Office director Pajiliai Dobui says some evacuation centres do not have power and water supply. Sanitation is also a concern.

He says they are distributing food rations but need to include milk in the packs because of the number of infants in the centres.