14 Apr 2004

Fiji warned of more flooding

3:40 pm on 14 April 2004

The Fiji weather office has extended its warning of renewed flooding to areas already devastated by last Thursday's flash floods.

Radio Legend says these include Rakiraki town and surrounding areas of Ra.

The latest warning follows more heavy rain which forecasters say is likely to continue for the rest of the week.

Heavy rain is also continuing in the Tailevu and Naitasiri provinces, parts of which have seen renewed flooding.

A number of roads and bridges are submerged again and closed to all traffic.

But water has receded from several other roads which were under up to 1.5 metres of water last night and they are open.

They only organisation which has been pleased by the heavy rain is the Fiji Electricity Authority.

It says the downpour has raised the level of the Monasavu dam by three metres, easing the pressure on imported diesel fuel.

Meanwhile, as the government plans its assistance to flood victims the National Farmers Union has begun distributing basic food and clothing to flood victims in the Rakiraki cane belt.