More flooding was expected in Fiji as authorities struggled Monday to cope with the damage from weekend downpours that left seven people feared dead and forced thousands into evacuation centres.
A state of emergency was declared for western areas of the main island of Viti Levu Sunday when flooding inundated the tourist centre of Nadi, and the towns of Lautoka, Sigatoka and Ba.
The latest casualty reported was a 17-year-old boy who drowned while trying to cross a river in the north of Viti Levu on Sunday.
Police were still trying to find the bodies of three children buried in landslides over the weekend, along with two other teenagers presumed drowned in rivers.
Power and water supplies were disrupted to many areas and tourists were unable to leave resorts for scheduled flights home, although flood waters were receding in many areas on Monday.
Fiji's military regime leader Voreqe Bainimarama said the government was working hard to provide assistance to those affected by the floods.
"We are having a cabinet meeting tomorrow and we will get a full briefing from relevant officials on the extent of damages," he said in a statement.
The highway linking Nadi — where the country's main international airport is situated — and the capital Suva was reopened Monday but many areas remained affected by floods.
More than 6,000 people have sought refuge at 114 evacuation centres around the country since the weekend, said Joeli Cawaki of the Disaster Management Committee.
Fiji's director of meteorology Rajendra Prasad said more flooding was likely later in the week.
"Widespread flooding including severe flooding of major rivers and streams is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. The western division is likely to be worse affected once again," Prasad said.
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