20 Dec 2016

Tropical depression slowing as it moves away from Fiji

10:42 am on 20 December 2016

A tropical depression hanging over Fiji is slowly moving away from the country after it sped up overnight and passed over Viti Levu.

Flood waters in the Central Division.

Flood waters in the Central Division. Photo: Fiji Ministry of Information

However the director of the Fiji Meteorological Service, Ravind Kumar said the associated active trough of low pressure and rain bands will continue to affect the country.

Flood warnings and alerts remain in place for much of the country particularly for communities in low-lying areas and those living near rivers and streams.

Mr Kumar said flood warnings have been lifted for some towns such as Nadi but these areas are still flood prone as the ground is heavily saturated and even a small amount of rainfall could cause more flooding.

He said the system is expected to continue moving away from Fiji over the course of the day.

"Given its current position it is now lying 250kms west-north-west of Kadavu," he said.

"We have seen that it moved rapidly overnight but it has started to show that it is now moving at 10km/h in a west-south-west direction further away from Fiji."

A heavy rain warning remains in place for all of Fiji with flood alerts for parts of Fiji including low lying areas adjacent to Nabukaluka station and downstream of Nabukaluka river.

Flood warnings have been cancelled for Nabukelevu Station, Sabata Station, Navua Town, Keiyasi Station, Votualevu Station, Dewala Station, Dreketilailai Station, Labasa Town, Toge Station and Nadi Town.

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