Strong wind and rain continue to affect Nadi as Tropical Cyclone Sarai a category 2 system now moves closer to the group.

Rain eases in Nadi while strong winds continue

The rain has eased in Nadi as TC Sarai continues to pass the Fiji group.

However strong winds continue to hit Nadi from last night.

Power is also still out in major parts of the Jet Set town.

Police can also be seen moving around in Nadi.

FBC News also spoke to Jonasa Lakolako in Waqadra Nadi who says that they are hoping the weather clears-out by the morning.

He says yesterday morning, they made sure their house was secured and essential items were bought.

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Police beefs up security

The Police Force is beefing up security measures in the four divisions through increased patrolling and monitoring due to the current weather situation.

With Tropical Cyclone Sarai now a Category Two system the Force is advising the public that its personnel are on standby to help in evacuations and rescue missions.

Chief Operations Officer ACP Maretino Qiolevu has confirmed there are no record of casualties so far and officers have been instructed to maintain a presence at various locations including evacuation centers for the security of all Fijians.

ACP Qiolevu adds an investigating team is also on standby to monitor those who may be having criminal intentions.

Parents and guardians are also reminded to keep a close watch on their little ones after reports received that some children are swimming in flooded water.

ACP Qiolevu also warns that those being affected by the rain need to take heed of warning and move to higher ground or to evacuation centres.

The public is urged to remain alert and vigilant and take advisories from relevant authorities seriously.

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15 families in evacuation centres at Tiliva village, Kadavu

Fifteen families from Tiliva Village in Nakasaleka, Kadavu have taken shelter at the community hall and a school.

With Tropical Cyclone Sarai is expected to pass close to the island and the villagers have taken heed of warning and prepared accordingly.

Turaga Ni Koro Mosese Waqa told FBC News that villagers started moving their belongings, nailing roofs and putting up shutters yesterday.

Waqa says the last thing the villagers want is a repeat of what happened during the 2016 Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He adds they have been experiencing heavy rain and strong wind from the past few hours.

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15 Evacuation centers now activated

361 evacuees are now taking shelter at 15 evacuation centers around the country as Category Two Tropical Cyclone Sarai continues to loom over Fiji.

The National Emergency Operation Center continues to work closely with the Divisional Emergency Operations Centers to assist people living in low lying areas as a strong surge started to enter some villages along with the coastal areas in the Western Division.

NDMO Director Vasiti Soko says the District Officers and first responders are assisting people living in low lying areas to evacuate to high grounds.

Soko adds that more evacuation centers are expected to be activated as people living in low lying areas and coastal areas have started experiencing damage winds and heavy rain.

In the Western Division:
Tavua District Secondary School – 108 evacuees
Matawalu Pentecostal Church, Lautoka – 26 evacuees
Dobailevu Muslim – 46 evacuees
Tavua District Primary – 44 evacuees
Methodist Church (Kavika Street) Tavua – 13 evacuees
Nadelei Catholic School – 2 evacuees
Saioni Methodist Church – 7 evacuees

In the Central Division:
Neilson College – 13 evacuees
Marata village, Wailoku Suva – 21 evacuees
LDS, Serua – 21 evacuees
Jokhan, Serua – 18 evacuees
LDS Church, Waila – 7 evacuees
Laucala village, Rewa – 10 evacuees

Eastern Division:

Tokou village, Ovalau -16 evacuees
Nabukelevu-i-ra, Kadavu – 9 evacuees

OPERATIONAL FOCUS FOR NEXT 24HOURS:
• Public safety paramount.
• NEOC will continue to track and monitor the movement of TC Sarai, and with the assistance of first responders ensure public safety.
• Monitor reports of flooding and possible activation of evacuation centers.
• Assist and monitor the evacuation of vulnerable communities to evacuation centers and to safe areas.
• Public advisories issued on mainstream and social media.
• Coordination of resources with Divisional DISMACs for optimum response.
• Next update will be at 12AM (28th Dec 2019)

EMERGENCY NUMBERS TO CALL:
• 910 or 911 for Ambulance or Fire
• 913 for Energy Fiji Limited (EFL)
• 917 for Police
• 5777 for Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)

For any queries, please contact NEOC on 3319250 or [email protected]

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TC Sarai continues south movement

Tropical Cyclone Sarai was located about 175km southwest of viwa or about 180km west-southwest of Nadi in the last hour.

Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds of up to 95km /hr with momentary gusts to 130km/hr.

The cyclone is moving south at about 20km/hr and is expected to turn and move southeast from later tonight.

The centre should be located about 220km south-southwest of Nadi or 180km west-southwest of Kadavu at 9am tomorrow and about 145km south-southwest of Kadavu at 9pm tomorrow.

A flash flood warning remains in force for low lying areas, small streams and areas adjacent to major rivers in the central division and now in force for low lying areas and small streams in the western division.

A flood warning is now in force for low lying areas and areas, adjacent to Nasivi Station in the Tavua River; downstream of Ba FSC station in the Ba River.

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Wind speeds continue to pick up in Kadavu

In Kadavu, wind speed has picked up and heavy rain is also being experienced.

Roko Tui Kadavu Kitione Raibevu has confirmed that the weather deteriorated late in the afternoon.

Raibevu also highlighted that villages were advised well beforehand to uproot their crops that were ready for harvest and boats were pulled to the shore.

He adds the respective Turaga-ni-Koro’s have also ensured homes in various villages are buckled down as they brace for the effects of Tropical Cyclone Sarai.

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Strong wind and heavy rain experienced in the Western Division

Strong wind and heavy downpour is being felt in most parts of the Western Division.

Assistant District Officer, Nadroga/Navosa Jese Wainiqolo told FBC News that 58 evacuation centers are on standby to accommodate those who might be in need.

Wainiqolo adds the Yako Village community hall is active and a few families from the nearby areas have taken shelter there.

Roko Tui Nadroga/Navosa Semi Kuru says residents in areas from Vatudradra to Momi currently have no power supply.

He believes if rain continues, water level in the Sigatoka River will rise.

FBC News also spoke to Jiuta Bonu, the Turaga Ni Koro from Lomanikaya village in Vatulele who says they are experiencing strong wind, heavy rain and coastal flooding.

Bonu says villagers are prepared and they’re taking advisories from relevant authorities seriously.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Ba River is rising due to the heavy rain experienced in the last few hours.

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Savusavu braces for showers and winds

Residents in Savusavu are currently experiencing light showers and strong wind.

Reports from Savusavu Hospital are that they are operating on emergency mode and all 17 patients admitted are safe.

There hasn’t been any reports of flooding from the area.

No evacuation centres have been activated in the area.

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Wind and rain picks up in Lautoka
Wind and rain are also picking up in Lautoka as Tropical Cyclone Sarai approaches.

Lautoka resident Taimoe Kamoe says wind has gained momentum since the last hour while the rain has also started to pour in heavily.

She says there were hardly movements from the early evening.

Many Lautoka residents have also put up shutters during the day as they brace for Sarai.

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Wailoku evacuation  centre
Families in Marata Village, Wailoku have tonight taken precautionary measures and moved into an evacuation centre.

Village Headman Josateki Wainivalu confirms about 15 families, mostly women and children have made their way to the community hall for safety.

He adds more of the 347 people will be coming into the evacuation centre.

When FBC News visited the villages, men were busy putting up shutters and securing homes.

Wainivalu says Marata Village is vulnerable to flash flooding, falling debris and landslides as it lies at the bottom of a valley.

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Strong wind and rain continue to affect Nadi as Tropical Cyclone Sarai a category 2 system now moves closer to the group.

The wind and rain have picked up in the last hour.

Police are also seen patrolling the streets of Nadi.

Earlier in the day, residents in Nadi were seen taking precautions by securing their homes and taking their livestock to higher grounds

Power in parts of Nadi has also been restored.

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We have also received reports that there are numerous fallen tree branches on the Sawani stretch just outside of Suva.

Police is advising motorists to take heed and avoid going out onto the roads.

Other reports are coming through from the greater Suva area of fallen trees and debris strewn on the roads.

The Fiji Roads Authority is also advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

It is urging the public to take all the necessary precautions and adhere to the advisories from relevant authorities.

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Energy Fiji Limited has also advised that its teams will not be able to attend to faults in the Central Division due to the severe weather conditions.

It says teams will re-mobile as soon as conditions become safe.

An unplanned power outage is affecting customers in the whole of Viti Levu.

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