(All warnings and flood alerts were lifted on Friday January 27 2012)
A natural disaster is expected to be declared in Western Fiji later today after heavy rain and high winds caused flooding which has claimed the lives of two locals.
The tourist hub of Nadi is one of the worst affected places, with floodwaters already closing the central bus station and market. 400 tourists had to be moved from their accommodation because of rising waters.
They were taken to the international airport, where flights are continuing, but facing delays as passengers struggle to make scheduled departure times.
More Evacuations Expected
There could be many more tourist evacuations with fears the Nadi River might burst its banks and flood the Denerau island resorts. The complex of a dozen high-end hotels and luxury accommodation is built on artificial islands on the mouth of the river. Other rivers all along the popular Coral Coast are also in flood.
This area that was hit by floods in 2009, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of Australian and NZ tourists.
Wild Weather
The entire Fijian island group has been lashed by a tropical depression which formed earlier this week, dumping heavy rain across all regions, but the western part of the main island of Viti Levu has been worst affected.
The
Fiji weather bureau is warning there’ll be more heavy rain over the next two days as the depression returns and say there’ll be more flooding in low-lying areas particularly around Nadi, Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki.
The government has already evacuated more than 300 families from their homes. Evacuation centres have been opened to deal with the emergency needs of hundreds more Fijians.
How to prepare for a flood
- If you are a smart traveller, you should already have an emergency kit prepared containing first aid, water, torches, food, medicines, and emergency contacts. If you don’t, put one together, even if the area you are visiting is not flood prone.
- Know where to go if an emergency hits, and take a quick look at the geography surrounding where you are staying - Where is high ground? Where will water come in to create a bottleneck? A quick analysis could be vital if push comes to shove.
- Keep up to date with news regarding the area you are staying in – check websites, talk to locals, and pay attention to radio or TV. Staying aware of what is going on is important, even if it is for a few minutes a day.
If a flood hits and you are inside
- Firstly, it is vital that you keep aware of, and pay heed to, any evacuation notices delivered by Emergency Services. If you are told to leave, leave.
- While there may be some situations that require evacuation, not everyone needs to leave their spot in the event of a flood, especially two story hotels or apartments that end up simply water logged downstairs. Although in apartment blocks, a word of caution – if the bottom levels become filled you could be marooned for days if your elevator system malfunctions.
- If water creeps inside your accommodation, be very careful with electrical appliances. The safest idea is to switch off as many as you can – and obviously, don’t use your devices if you are standing in water.
- If you are stuck inside and need to raise an alarm, hang a white sheet outside your window or on your roof so emergency services can spot you.
If you need to leave your accommodation
If circumstances reach a point where it is essential to leave where you are staying, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
- Wear study clothes, and strong shoes - the more water resistant the better
- Take enough supplies that will last you for a few days, but leave behind any large pieces of luggage. If you get caught in a wave, you don’t want to have cumbersome gear weighing you down. Clothes can be replaced. You can’t.
- Under no circumstances should you EVER drive through floodwaters. Engineering experts say that a human body in a stream of water is far safer, physics wise, than a car. Cars are filled with air, which makes them a bouncing, bobbing death machine.
- Don’t swim or wade through floodwaters, even a slow moving current is enough to knock you over, and the currents of floodwaters are extremely unpredictable. Floodwaters also contain debris traps – branches, pieces of metal, sewage, animals.
- The best idea is to find the highest and most visible ground you possibly can, and stay put. You might get bored in the same place and want to move elsewhere, but if you have found the highest ground you possibly can, it’s the best you can do in a devastating flood. You should only move from your location if you believe that you are about to face severe danger.
- Make sure you have enough food and water, and try your best to make yourself visible so emergency services can rescue you.
If you are injured
If you are injured or become ill please seek medical aid and contact your 24-hour Medical Assistance Service (numbers below).
Be aware that any functioning hospitals and clinics will be busy caring for other people and there may be long delays.
If you are in a region with no operating medical facilities please contact the Medical Assistance Service Immediately.
Emergency Assistance Contacts
Call the emergency assistance hotlines should you need immediate attention.Please have your name, location and phone number ready when you call (and policy number if available).
Click here for a list of 24 hour emergency assistance hotline numbers.
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