Photo courtesy of Fijian government Facebook page

Just weeks after emerging from the devastating Tropical Cyclone Winston, Fiji is getting slammed by more heavy rain. During the past  24-hour period, some areas have recorded up to 20 centimetres of rainfall, causing flooding, power outages and road closures. 

Many of Fiji’s rivers—already bloated due to Tropical Cyclone Winston—are flooding. Much of Nadi Town — Fiji's major point of entry — is unpassable due to high waters, and police are asking people to not cross into town.

According to Fiji’s Meteorological Service, flood warnings remain in effect for Nadi Town, Rakiraki Town and the Ba, Sigatoka, Nadi, Wainimala and Semo Rivers and a flood alert remains in force for the Wainibuka, Rewa, Navua and Waimanu rivers. Additionally, strong wind warnings remain in effect throughout Fiji and for all bodies of water within Fiji.

The agency is monitoring three tropical disturbances within the viciinty of the FIjian islands. According to the service’s Facebook page, after a slight lull in the early morning, "active rainbands associated with TD14F” were expected to once again start affecting Fiji in the afternoon.

The agency is also monitoring TD15F and TD 16F. While TD15F appears to be moving away from Fiji, TD16F, now situated south of the Solomon Islands, could wreak further havoc on the nation’s weather patterns this week.

On Monday, April 4, Fiji Airways diverted a flight from Honolulu to Nadi International Aiport to Apia, Samoa. All other international flightts were operating as normal. The airline's domestic carrier, Fiji LInk had canceled all flights to and from Labasa, Koro and Tarawa. Flights from Nadi to Suva, the nation's capital, were operating normally. The airline encourages all international and domestic passengers to monitor flights at www.fijiairways.com.

Pacific Island Air, a domestic charter carrier, canceled all flights for Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5. The company is monitoring weather conditions for “windows of opportunity,” during which limited operations are available.

A number of seaplanes carryied passengers to the Yasawa Islands early in the day, and a helicopter was lifting passengers from the Outrigger Hotel, since the road from the Coral Coast to Nadi is closed. The airline is monitoring weather conditions and expects to again cease flights as the heavy rains return. The airline is issuing letters for travel insurance companies for affected travellers.

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