Tropical Cyclone Causes Devastating Floods in Fiji

At least four people have died after Tropical Cyclone Josie brought severe flooding to Fiji’s main island Viti Levu on Sunday, April 1.

One of the worst-hit areas was Ba Town.

The video shows a group of people setting out to reach Ba Town by boat, to witness the devastation first-hand. The recording reveals the aftermath of the flooding along the way, including submerged cars and buildings.

Tropical Cyclone Josie was only a Category 1 storm but brought heavy rainfall to Fiji after skirting the southwest coast of Viti Levu. ABC reported that flooding closed roads, disrupted flights and knocked out power to a number of areas.

Credit: Wame Boselawa via Storyful

Fijian officials on Monday continued to search for a missing 19-year-old man, while receding floodwater allowed for some roads to reopen, according to a tweet from the Fiji National Disaster Management Office.

And raging floodwater can still be deadly, as this post warns.

The National Disaster Management Office has issued several advisories about the possibility of floodwater levels rising, putting residents at renewed risk.

Earlier intense rainfall plagued the tourist town of Nadi, and Fiji Airways canceled several flights over the weekend.

Melbourne man Tafazul Akhtar had been in Nadi for a week and told ABC that he witnessed the rivers overflowing.

“There wasn’t much damage by the wind itself, but there is substantial damage to crops, to animals, livestock, the roads are still flooded … it’s going to be a really touchy couple of weeks,” he said.

The National Disaster Management Office said 35 evacuation centers across Viti Levu would house nearly 2,000 evacuees.

Watch the full video, which shows people using a boat to reach Ba Town, which was of the areas worst impacted by the flooding.

Credit: Wame Boselawa via Storyful