Freak Winds Frighten Vendors
It was a freak storm that blew out of nowhere, picking up tents and marquees in the Suva City Municipal Market and slamming them on the ground yesterday.
The strength of the wind was likened to that of a cyclone.
Women and villagers from Waidina,
Naitasiri had just made their way to the market and started to put their produce in the designated marquees.
“We tried to hold onto the steel legs of the marquees but the winds were strong. When one of the metal frames snapped, we let go and the marquee flew. Some of my produce was damaged,” said vendor Mereoni Nawaqabau.
Ilisabeta Turuva, also of Waidina said she was scared.
“I had never seen anything like this in my life. The sea was calm, but all of a sudden the strong winds came and turned everything upside down,” she said.
The marquees were put up to accommodate villagers who come to the market to sell their produce. The incident occurred yesterday morning between 7am and 8am. Suva City Council staff were quick would be developed to formalise lots and money for this work has been allocated already,” she said.
“We realised that floods were plaguing the area and now before anything can happen we to set up the marquees again.
The Fiji Meteorological Services said the freak winds were brought about by the low pressure system currently affecting the country.
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Suva Market vendor, Ilisabeta Turuva.