Villagers move into evacuation centres in expectation of TC Tino
Villagers in Vanua Levu had started moving to evacuation centres in expectation that Tropical Cylcone Tino would make landfall in the Northern Division yesterday.
Speaking from Vatu Village, Salamisa Donu, said all the villagers had moved to Wainiika District School to seek shelter. “We are all here in school, we had been advised by the village heads to move to the evacuation centre for safety reasons,” Mr Donu said.
“There’s heavy rain and strong winds at the moment and maybe it will be worse during high tide so we are all safe at the moment and we pray for everyone’s safety around Fiji too.”
Cawaro Village, Udu.
Villager, Jope Naucabalavu, said at about 5pm yesterday they started to feel the strong wind.
“It is really strong here at the moment with heavy rain, everyone had been advised to stay indoors,” he said.
“Our village hall is now occupied and there are also few houses which we normally use as evacuation centres.” Mr Naucabalavu said the villagers were safe at the moment.
Taveuni
Speaking from Lavena in Taveuni, village headman Petero Waisea, said they had started putting up shutters from yesterday morning.
“The wind is not really strong yet, but there is heavy rain at the moment,” he said.
“I have advised all the sick, the children and the elderly to move to the evacuation centres provided.
“We have two including the Lavena Primary School and the village hall.”
At around 5pm yesterday, Mr Waisea said more than 20 people had moved to the village hall and more than 18 had evacuated to the school.
“These numbers increased by last night , it might go up to 100, because we expect the winds to be very strong at night.”
Rabi Island
District Advisory Councillor for Rabi Island Ilisabeta Hedstrom while speaking from Bokanikai Village said they could feel the strong winds.
She added that the whole of Rabi had been warned to take safety precautions.
She said all Bokanikai villagers had evacuated to their Methodist Church Hall, Rabi High School was opened in Tabiang Village and community halls were also on standby for other villages in Rabi.
Bua
Speaking from Daria Village, Jope Maravu said they had started preparing for the cyclone and were putting up shutters.
There was not much rain, however wind had started to build up.
Evacuations centres are also on standby if in case things got worse. the