The refurbished Lautoka District Emergency Operations Centre will increase preparedness and communications before, during, and after a disaster.

The project funded by the European Union is the fifth Centre refurbished across Fiji in the past 12 months and costs $49, 500.

Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development, Meleti Bainimarama says the refurbished EOC will ensure disaster response operations are not disrupted when activated during an emergency, adding it will ensure increased communication within the district.

The other Centers that have been upgraded are in Nadi, Lautoka, Tavua and Nabouwalu.

Four more EOCs in the Central Division will be upgraded in the coming months to ensure the country has a robust network during times of crisis.