The huge clean up has started in Fiji following the recent cyclone, but thousands of Fijians are still in evacuation centres.
Tropical Cyclone Ana went through Fiji and left behind a trail of damage to fragile settlements, properties and livestock.
RNZ Pacific correspondent Lice Movono said the flooding and rain activity recently is one of the biggest rainfalls the country has experienced.
Damage in Fiji caused by Tropical Cyclone Ana
Photo: Fiji government
Ms Movono said Fijians have become quite resilient and despite the intensity of the flooding, people were able to transition into repair mode quickly. The morning after when flood waters recede, it s business as usual, so immediately after the water levels went down, people were cleaning up the streets, cleaning up their homes and those who could have gone back. I m waiting for NDMO to update us on just how many people are still left in evacuation centres.
A flooded Wailailai flat in Ba. Picture: REPEKA NASIKO/FILE
We are still in cyclone season. This was the word from the Fiji Meteorological Service as Tropical Cyclone Ana rapidly weakened to below intensity yesterday.
In its 10th special weather bulletin, the Met office reiterated the call for Fijians to remain vigilant.
“Members of the public are reminded that Fiji is still in the cyclone season which will end in April,” the forecasters stated.
“Therefore, it is essential that all Fijians remain vigilant and prepared.”
Meanwhile, the impact of Tropical Cyclone Ana eased from yesterday as the system was downgraded to a low early yesterday morning.
Repeka Nasiko
Abhinesh Singh in front of the house where the bodies were found. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
The discovery of the bodies of an elderly couple early yesterday has rocked the quiet community of Lawai, Sigatoka.
The bodies of real estate developer Sesha Reddy and wife Mirdu Chandra were found at their three-bedroom home in Lawai estate.
The United States residents’ bodies were discovered by one of their employees.
Family friend Abhinesh Singh said he last saw the couple alive on Wednesday, just before heavy downpours associated with Tropical Cyclone Ana restricted movement within the rural community.
“I usually check on them when there’s bad weather so when I called them on Thursday and again on Friday, there was no answer,” he said.
3 February, 2021, 10:27 pm
Kamlesh Kumar, 38, left, and son Ganesh Krishna, 11, in front of their car wash business which was flooded during TC Ana on Sunday. Picture: SOPHIE RALULU
Kamlesh Kumar has been through much in the past year than most people go through in their lifetime.
His wife left him early last year and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, he lost his job.
Just when things were turning around for him, Mr Kumar lost his car wash business to floodwaters associated with Tropical Cyclone Ana last Saturday.
“My business is not insured and I do not know where to start,” the 38-year-old said.
Food packs deployed to the North
Food packs deployed to the North
Minister for Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu
If you are living in Vanua Levu and have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Ana and Yasa, assistance is on its way.
The National Disaster Management Office deployed a vessel last night to Vanua Levu with 13,000 food packs and water tanks.
Minister for Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu says the deployment is for families that have been severely affected by TC Yasa and Ana because Vanua Levu is now running on two lines of operation.
Seruiratu says one is the continuation of the relief assistance and recovery efforts for TC Yasa and at the same time is the first response for those affected by TC Ana.