9 Jan 2009

Fiji Metservice warns against venturing into flooded plains

2:36 pm on 9 January 2009

The Metservice in Fiji is warning people that they are risking their lives by venturing into the flooded plains.

Heavy rain in Fiji has caused floods in the west of the main island of Viti Levu causing problems in Ba and in Nadi where access has been cut to the Denarau tourist area.

The Metservice Director of Meteorology Rajendra Prasad says although heavy rain is common, locals should avoid heading out to see the effects of the rainfall.

"People living in this tropical part of the world, heavy rainfall is part and parcel of our weather pattern and so people really do not take things very seriously. And we've had experienced of people falling victim of the situation where by they didn't take the warning seriously and then they were caught on tops of roofs or in houses calling for police."

Rajendra Prasad, Director of Meteorology at the Metservice in Nadi.