Floods Hit 20,000 in Naitasiri: Govt
Water level higher this time than during Cyclone Winston
More than 20, 000 people in the province of Naitasiri were either directly or indirectly affected by the recent floods caused by TD04F.
The figure was released at the Vunidawa Government Station yesterday.
Naitasiri Provincial administrator, Koroka Balemaiwai said there were 91 villages within 16 districts and more than 200 settlements in Naitasiri. Mr Balemaiwai said the provinces consisted of the major rivers, Waidina, Wainimala, Waimanu and the Wainibuka River. “During a bad weather, when these major rivers burst their banks they flood most of the villages and farms in Naitasiri. The floods levels in this weather were higher than Tropical Cyclone Winston.
“One of the most affected district is Lutu. It flooded the three villages, Lutu, Nukuloa and Navuniyaro. “There are more than 30,000 people in Naitasiri,” he said. Mr Balemaiwai said Naqali Village was heavily flooded too. He said 20 evacuation centres were activated in the province which accommodated thousands of villages.
“It is quite a challenge, we are still in the process of recovering from TC Winston than this hit again, but it was good that no one died. “Most of the people in this area are farmers, the flood waters had destroyed most farms in this province, but we are trying to assist them in any way we can,” he said.
Mr Balemaiwai said that villages in the province were really helpful in trying to ease work for them.
“We will begin with assessment soon and from there than we will decide what step to take next, but at the moment we are assisting flood victims with the limited resources we have.
“This is the biggest province in the Central Division,” he said. Edited by Maraia Vula