Deaths rise from Fiji flash flooding

[Grant]

Five people have drowned in flash floods in Fiji after a weekend of torrential rain, local media reports.


Three bodies had been recovered after rivers burst their banks around Labasa, the main town on Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu, officials said. Thirteen people managed to escape the rising floodwaters by clinging to tree tops, Fiji TV reported.

The South Pacific island chain has been hit by heavy rains in recent weeks, washing away homes and roads. The north and west of Fiji have been the worst hit. Two people were reported to have drowned on Friday in flooding around Nadi, a tourism centre on the west coast of the main island of Viti Levu.

Another woman has been reported missing from the Labasa area.
More heavy rain is forecast for the coming days, and warnings of further flash floods remain in place.

"There is still the possibility of flash flooding in low lying areas, but it will be more localised than large scale flooding," meteorological chief Rajendra Prasad told local radio.
"Floods here are quite common, but not as prolonged as the case we are having right now. There has been two weeks of just continuous periods of rain."