8 Jan 2013

Power still to be restored to parts of Fiji's Western Division

2:30 pm on 8 January 2013

Electricity is still to be restored to parts of Fiji's Western Division, more than three weeks after the initial impact of Cyclone Evan.

The director of Fiji's National Disaster Management Office says three relief shelters are housing 42 evacuees but it plans to have them moved home.

Manasa Tagicakibau says all of the Western Division except for the outlying islands has running water, with some of the treatment plants powered by generators.

He says Rakiraki and Tavua are the areas still without electricity.

"Our Fiji Electricity Authority has also employed 10 contractors to assist them in this work. They have also given a timeline: in the next five days they should have power restoration at 100 percent in the Western Division."

Manasa Tagicakibau says water and a month's worth of relief supplies are being given to the outlying islands but distribution of relief supplies on Viti Levu will end in two weeks.