People living in low lying areas are urged to move to higher grounds to avoid any circumstances that may occur during high tide this afternoon.

Commissioner Central and newly appointed Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development Meleti Bainimarama says the big rise in the water level during the low tide this morning is a cause of concern to authorities.

Bainimarama says it’s best if people start moving now rather than trying to move when the water levels rise higher at night.

‘’I warned the rural population about the preparedness stage that they should go into now .To be prepared if this hits them in the night ,rise in flood waters come and will be met with incoming tide which will happen in the evening so this is just a warning to be ready if you have higher grounds please move to higher grounds .It’s good to be safe than caught underway during the dark’’.

Bainimarama is also reminding parents and guarding to take care their children and not let them swim in drains or creeks