A man has died after he tried to cross a flooded river at the Nayalayala settlement in Taveuni.

Regional and international collaboration is the only way to address the limited local capacity to effectively prepare and respond to tsunamis, says Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo.

The issue of flooding was brought up by the Nadi Town Council during their meeting with Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Katamotu and Assistant Minister Lenora Qereqeretabua.

The Fiji Meteorological Service says as of six this morning, Tropical Cyclone Irene further weakened and is downgraded to a low-pressure system.

Tropical Cyclone Irene is weakening and is expected to be located around 600 kilometres to the far southwest of Kadavu and remain over open waters as it moves southeastward away from Fiji.

The Fiji Meteorological Services says as at 6am today, Tropical Cyclone Irene intensified further into a Category 2 system while located to the south of Villa, Vanuatu.

The Fiji Meteorological Service says an active trough of low pressure is anticipated to approach the group from later today.

Fijians living along coastal areas should expect coastal flooding as an alert is now in force for parts of the Fiji group.

A heavy rain alert has been issued for Yasawa and Mamanuca Group, Western and Northern Viti Levu.

An eight-year-old boy from Tacirua, Nasinu who was swept away by a strong current in a drain yesterday afternoon, is the first casualty from the flashflood.

The Fiji Meteorological Service is urging members of the public to remain vigilant as we are still in the cyclone season.

The new Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management says he has been fully briefed about the situation in the Western division.