TVNZ: Fiji braces for new storm as death toll rises

Published: 1:09PM Wednesday February 01, 2012 Source: ONE News

A second tropical depression is approaching Fiji and could form into a tropical cyclone within the next 12 to 24 hours.

This comes as the death toll in the nation's floods rises to seven.

ONE News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver tweeted: "Poor old Fiji - more rain has meant more flooding, evacuation centres are re-opening and another person has died taking death toll to 7."

FijiLive reports a Senior Meteorologist at the Nadi Weather Office said this morning the tropical depression was located 600km west of Nadi.

Amit Singh said if the depression turns into a tropical cyclone, the possibility of it affecting Fiji would be very low.

"It has no direct threat to Fiji but the indirect effect will bring heavy rain at times together with strong and gusty winds," he said.

Singh said Vanua Levu, Yasawa, Mamanuca, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands would face the full brunt of the adverse weather conditions.

He said as the tropical depression developed, the whole of Fiji group would experience heavy rain.

A flood warning was also in place for the Fiji group.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) was requesting people to evacuate to higher ground following reports of flooding of low lying areas in the Western Division, FijiLive reported.

Parts of Rakiraki and Tavua were flooded and closed to traffic following downpours.

The damage caused by last week's deadly floods is estimated at about $20 million after villages, settlements and suburbs in the western district were inundated.

Health officials on Monday said they had lost more than $151,000 in property, and needed about $103,000 for the clean-up campaign and to contain any disease outbreak.

The officials warned of a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases. In an attempt to tackle the problem, they had removed more than 15 tonnes of food items from more than 200 shops.

Divisional health inspector, western, Dip Chand, said their main task was to disinfect all evacuation centres, especially schools, to ensure they are free from health risks.

They were also focusing on a mass clean-up of mosquito breeding sources to tackle an increase in the insects, he said.

New Zealand made an initial $350,000 available to help provide immediate aid.