Centre predicts more rain as tropical disturbance looms
The National Weather Forecasting Centre in Nadi says a heavy rain warning remains in force for Western and Northen Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Tavueni, the Lau Group, Yasawa and the Mamanuca Group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands.
A heavy rain alert remains in force for the rest of the country.
The centre further warns that a tropical disturbance with associated active trough of low pressure remains slow moving over the Fiji group.
The forecast nationwide predicts varying degrees of rain all over the country. A marine weather bulletin issued at 7.30pm last night said a strong wind warning remained in force for Vanua Levu waters, Lau waters and the Vatu-i-Ra passage.
For Rotuma, there is a strong wind warning that remains in force for land and waters off the island.
In light of the weather forecast, the Fiji Electricity Authority warns that prevailing conditions could potentially lead to thunder, lightning, heavy rains, gusty winds and flooding, historically all of which have caused damages to the FEA power infrastructure and resulted in prolonged power outages.
“Do not touch any FEA power lines. Treat all power lines as being live,’’ the authority warned in a statement issued by the authority’s CEO, Hasmukh Patel.
For flood prone areas, the authority requests residents to call the FEA in the event that they notice rising water levels that could compromise power line clearance. Rising water levels could also compromise the clearance levels of overhead power lines crossing rivers, and the public is requested to keep away and call FEA in the event they notice rising river levels getting close to the power lines.
FEA wishes to remind the public to treat all broken power lines as live and to exercise appropriate precaution by staying away and keeping others away from all broken and/ or low power lines and to inform FEA immediately on their emergency number 913.
Other queries can be directed to 132 333 for emergencies only.
The Ministry of Agriculture is advising all farmers to take the necessary precautions to reduce risk to life and their property as a heavy rain warning remains in force for most parts of the country.
Farmers are advised to begin securing their property, stock and life. It is recommended that farmers keep their animals, machines and farm implements away from flood-prone areas and secure the livestock sheds.
Do not touch any FEA power lines. Treat all power lines as being live Hasmukh Patel FEA chief executive officer
It is advised for farmers to monitor crops which are on flood prone areas to avoid losses during flooding.
They can also move planting materials to higher ground so that it can be used after the floodwaters have receded. Farmers also have to be wary of culverts and other waterways created by floods and are therefore advised to keep family members and animals away from them. Farmers have been warned to pay close attention to all weather forecasts, warnings and advisories issued by the Fiji Meteorological Services. It is best for farmers to follow precautionary measures so that losses from flash floods and strong winds are minimised and if possible, completely avoided.
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