6 Apr 2012

12,000 people in Fiji evacuation centres after flooding

1:36 pm on 6 April 2012

The permanent secretary for Provincial Development and Disaster Management in Fiji says some people have been able to return to their homes but about 12,000 are still in evacuation centres following the flooding.

Lieutenant-Colonel Inia Seruiratu says breaks in the weather have allowed some to return home and start cleaning up.

Lieutenant-Colonel Seruiratu says the confirmed death toll from the flooding, which hit the Western Division and parts of the Central Division, stands at five.

He says disaster relief officials have three main areas of focus.

"One is to conduct immediate relief, supplies to the evacuation centres, and the restoration of essential services. Second priority is to conduct initial damage assessments, and our third priority is to conduct immediate to medium term recovery whenever possible."

Lieutenant-Colonel Seruiratu says they are waiting for survey results on how many homes have been damaged.