MINISTRY OF PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT & NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT OFFICE  1 Knolly Plaza, Knolly Street, Suva; Post Office Box 2219, Government Buildings Suva Republic of the Fiji Islands; Telephone : 3319250 Fax : 3319315

Serial No.

From    :           National Emergency Operation Centre                    SITREP NO. 05/2012

To        :           KEY STAKEHOLDERS                           Time:    1700hrs – 2400hrs

Subject :           TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE                           Date:    24^th January, 2012

1.0        GENERAL SITUATION

An active trough of low pressure continues to lie slow moving over the Fiji Group.

All Divisional Commissioners have activated their Emergency Operation Centers and continue to monitor the situation.

2.0        WEATHER SITUATION

A SEVERE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR MAJOR RIVERS, STREAMS AND

LOW LYING AREAS OF WESTERN VITI LEVU.

Situation:

An active trough of low pressure lies slow moving over Fiji. Associated cloud and rain continue to affect the group.

Forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji group:

Further periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms. Severe flooding of major rivers, streams and low lying areas of Western Viti Levu. Elsewhere, flooding of low lying areas expected.

Moderate to fresh northerly winds, gusty at times. Rough to very rough seas.

Outlook for THURSDAY: Occasional rain and thunderstorms over most places. For Navua / Suva / Nausori : Further periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms today. Outlook for THURSDAY: Occasional rain and few thunderstorms.   For Nadi / Lautoka / Ba : Further periods of rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms today. Outlook for THURSDAY: Occasional rain and few thunderstorms.   For Labasa : Occasional rain. Isolated heavy falls and thunderstorms expected.  Outlook for THURSDAY: Occasional rain and few thunderstorms.   For  Savusavu : Occasional rain, heavy at times and squally thunderstorms. Outlook for THURSDAY: Occasional rain and few thunderstorms.   For Rotuma : Moderate northerly winds. Moderate seas. Occasional rain and few thunderstorms.

Outlook for THURSDAY : Some showers

For Mariners:

An effective trough of low pressure lies slow moving over Fiji associated with cloud and rain continue to affect the group.

Forecast to midnight tonight for Fiji waters:

Northerly winds 20 to 25 knots, gusting to 30 knots in squalls, rough seas. Poor visibility in areas of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms.

Further outlook:  Northerly winds 15 to 20 knots. Moderate to rough seas.

3.0        DAMAGE REPORTS

3.1        WESTERN DIVISION

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

All the Divisional and District Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) have been activated. Police, Military and Civil Servants are manning the operation, the Divisional HODs have been briefed on the current situation and they have also activated their Emergency Operation and are to report to the Divisional Emergency Operations if there is a unique situation at hand.

All sectors have also activated their own standby teams i.e. Police Command Centre, Lautoka, DE Works, DMO Health, FEA, Telecom, WAF, DNR, and the Red Cross.

FLOOD IMPACTS

Ra District

Water level remains in all areas mentioned earlier. Access roads remain closed.

Stranded people in town are all sheltered in the office awaiting water level to recede.

Two (2) Evacuation centres have been reported to have opened in the District, with 35 evacuees.

A total of 4 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Rakiraki Depot. Roads are as follows: Naroro Rd, Nasau Rd, Barotu Circular Rd, Vaileka Town Rd. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01 & Appendix 02.

The whole of Ra District is still without power supply.

          Tavua/Nadarivatu Districts

Eight (8) Evacuation centres have been reported to have opened in the District, with 440 evacuees.

A total of 10 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Tavua Depot. Roads are as follows: Kings Rd (Nabuna Flats), Nadarivatu Rd (Korovou Flats), Nadelei Rd, Lakalaka Rd, Yaladro Rd (Yaladro Flats), Qalela Rd, Dramasi Rd, Naseyani Rd, Vatukoula Industrial, Lubulubu Rd

Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01 & Appendix 02.

The whole of Tavua District is still without power supply.

Ba District

Eight (8) Evacuation centres have been reported to have opened in the District, with 61 evacuees so far recorded. Unaccounted figure is yet to be confirmed by BA Dismac.

A total of 15 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Ba Depot. Roads are as follows : Parts  of the Kings Rd, Vutuni Rd, Namosau Rd, Koronubu Rd, Moto Rd (Nasolo village), Marinitawa Rd, Toge Rd, Babriban Rd, Votua Rd, Ba Link Rd, Navala, Koula Back Rd, Vatusui Rd, Vatiyaka Rd, Nadari Rd. Detailed report is contained in Appendix Appendix 01 & Appendix 02.

The whole of Ba District is still without power supply. There has been an urgent request made to the Ba Police Station to contact Nukuloa Police Post regarding a temporary power source for the medical centre, due to the presence of a deceased body in the medical centres morgue.

Lautoka District

Nine (9) Evacuation centres have been reported to have opened in the District, however the number of evacuees is yet to be confirmed.

A total of 15 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Lautoka Depot. Roads are as follows : Nadele Rd, Buabua Rd, Vuda Back Rd, Vaivai Rd, Navula Rd, Drasa Dam Rd, Paipai Rd, Vakabuli/Paipai Rd, Saru Back Rd, Nagado Rd, Wailoko Rd, Naikabula Rd, Qalitu Rd, Vakabuli Rd, Parts of the Kings Rd

Detailed report is contained in Appendix Appendix 01 & Appendix 02.

Nadi District

Nadi District experienced a rise in flood waters from 8.30pm and with the continuing heavy downpour from the interior, the situation is expected to worsen in the next six hours.

Water level reading:

The Nadi River Water level reading from 7.30pm – 11pm is stated below:

1. Nadi River as at 7.30 pm  is 6.110 m

2. Nadi River as at 8.30 pm  is 6.152 m

3. Nadi River as at 10.30 pm is 6.231 m

4. Nadi River as at 11.00 pm is 6.278 m

5. Votualevu Feeder Rd. River as at 8.30 is 7.748 m

6. Votualevu Feeder Rd. River as at 10.30 is 9.702 m

Note: The water level is expected  to rise if it continues to rain tonight.

Fifteen  (15) Evacuation centres have been reported to have opened in the District, with 938 evacuees so far recorded.

A total of 12 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Nadi Depot. Roads are as follows : Nadi Back Rd, Hospital Rd, Old Nadi Back Rd, Sarava Rd, Nawaicoba Rd, Togo/Masi, Nausori Highland, Nasesevia Rd, Bukuya/Valley, Denarau Rd, Bavu Rd, Parts of the Queens Rd.

Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01 & Appendix 02.

Tourist Evacuation:

Heli-port for stranded tourist wanting to catch overseas flight today was at a private residence at Koroivolu behind the Nadi Police Station.

A helicopter based at Denarau made 14 trips from Koroivolu via Nadi International Airport as it can only carry 3 people @ $500/trip of which the cost is shared by the 3 passengers.

Nadroga / Navosa

A total of 8 roads have been closed in this province as reported from the Nadroga Depot. Roads are as follows : Kavanagasau Rd, Parts of the Queens Rd, Naidiri Rd, Tilivalevu Rd, Kabisi Rd, Uluisila Rd, Nadroumai Rd, Valley Rd.

Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01 & Appendix 02.

Four  (4) Evacuation centres have been reported to have opened in the District, with 388 evacuees so far recorded.

3.2        CENTRAL DIVISION

            Korovou District

So far 2 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Korovou Depot. Roads are as follows : Parts of Kings Rd, Dawasamu Rd. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

            Naitasiri

A total of 6 roads have been closed in this district as reported from the Naqali Depot. Roads are as follows : Muanaweni Rd, Lutu/Vuisiga, Waibau Rd, Navulokani Rd, Sawani Serea, Natavea Rd. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

Serua Province

A total of 3 roads have been closed in this province as reported from the Taunovo Depot. Roads are as follows : Namosi Rd, Rovadrau Rd, Beqa Rd.

Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

3.3        EASTERN DIVISION

Lomaiviti Province

There was no SITREP received during the shift, however notification was received at NEOC on the water disruption and the roads which are closed for heavy traffic. It is anticipated that the prevailing situation remain the same as previously reported on SITREP 4.

Lau Province

A total of 3 roads have been closed in this province as reported from the Cicia and Moala Depot. Roads are as follows : Tarukua Jetty, Tarukua-Cicia Depot, Moala Jetty. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

Kadavu Province

Parts of Kadavu roads have been reported to be washed out, and landslides evident in some areas. Motorists are continuously warned to take precautionary measures. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

3.4        NORTHERN DIVISION

The Northern Division’s Agricultural Department have managed to conduct, compile and submit preliminary crop damage assessment, however more detailed costing and report is yet to be submitted.

Cakaudrove Province

Vunivesi/Nukubolu Rd has been closed in this province as reported from the Svusavu Depot. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

Macuata Province

Labasa District (East)

Lakeba Rd has been closed in this district as reported from the Labasa Road East Depot. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

Labasa District (West)

A total of 5 roads have been closed in this province as reported from the Labasa Road West Depot. Roads are as follows : Wairiki Rd, Naduna Rd, Bucalevu Rd, Naduriseva Rd, Delaikoro Rd. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

Bua Province

Nabouwalu Road has been closed in this district as reported from the Natua and Nabouwalu Depot. Detailed report is contained in Appendix 01.

4.0        PUBLIC ADVISORY

Since the commencement of the NEOC, 12 public advisory updates have been released to the local and international media.

5.0        EVACUATION CENTRES

46 Evacuation Centres have been opened but only 37 have been confirmed to be occupied. There are altogether 1811 evacuees (i.e. 819 adults and 709 children or 43 families) in these Evacuation Centres. Breakdown shown on template below.         

NAME	LOCATION	ADULTS	CHILDREN	TOTAL	REMARKS
Rakiraki Muslim School	Ra	19	TBC	19	7 families
Vaidoko	Ra	9	7	16	4 families
St Theresa Primary School	Ba	15	10	25
Vatulaulau Primary School		8	8	16
Nasolo Village Kindergarten	Ba	TBC	TBC		11 families
Votua Catholic School	Ba	TBC	TBC		1 family
Votua Community Hall	Ba	TBC	TBC		5 families
AOG Yalalevu	Ba	6	6	12	2 families
Toge AOG	Ba	TBC	TBC	TBC
Nayau Flat	Ba	3	5	8
Tavua Roads Barracks	Tavua	6	1	7
TAVUA College	Tavua	38	28	66
Tavua Muslim Primary	Tavua	39	32	71
Tavua Primary	Tavua	71	64	135
Tavua District School	Tavua	64	67	131
Korovou Community Hall	Tavua			14
Vatukoula	Tavua	4	5	9
Natawa Primary School	Tavua	4	3	7
St. Andrews Primary School	Nadi	168	100	268
Nadi Muslim College	Nadi	100	180	280
Nakavu Village EC	Nadi	22	18	40
Yavusania Village EC	Nadi	7	10	17
Salvation Army EC	Nadi	30	15	45
Ratu Navula College	Nadi	TBC	TBC	TBC
Vunayasi Koromakawa Res	Nadi	94	28	122
Sikituru AOG Church Hall	Nadi	3	2	5
Namotomoto Village Church	Nadi	29	34	63
Votualevu, Savunawai	Nadi	5		5
Michaels Residence, Denarau island	Nadi	8		8
Nadi Police Bure	Nadi	6	8	14
Korovuto College	Nadi	29	31	60
Nadi Community Bure	Nadi	8	3	11
Nadi Shagam Primary	Nadi				8 Families
Lomawai Village Church	Nadroga	24	44	68
Semo Church/ Hall	Nadroga			270
Veisamasama Community Hall	Nadroga			50
Nalele Community Hall	Nadroga				5 families

Nine (9) Evacuation Centers are now open in the district of Lautoka, but have not yet confirmed the number of its occupants respectively:

1. Tuvu Primary School
2. Drasa Muslim Primary School
3. Lovu Sangam School
4. Isireli Pentecostal Church, California Road
5. Peceli Methodist Church, Waiyavi
6. Coronation Church, Lautoka City
7. Fiji National University Lautoka Campus, Natabua
8. Koroyaca Community Hall, Sabeto
9. Sabeto Sangam School

6.0        CASUALITIES

The current death toll remains at 2. Details are tabulated below :

Division	Name of deceased	Age	Race	Village / Settlement	Cause of Death
CND – Vanua Levu	Pelasio Qanuku	34	Fijian	Nasaqa Village	Swept away by strong currents
CWD –BA	Narayan Sami	47	Indo –Fijian	Navoli, BA	Swept away by strong currents

7.0        DECLARATION OF STATE OF DISASTER

The National Disaster Council will convene tomorrow to determine the declaration of the state of disaster for certain areas of the Western Division.

8.0        CONCLUSION

The NEOC will continue to the monitor the weather situation across the country with the assistance of the divisional and district EOCs.

 

Respectfully submitted.

[ Pajiliai Dobui ]

Director National Disaster Management Office

 

DISTRIBUTION LIST

• The President, Republic of Fiji
•  Office of the President
• The Honorable Prime Minister
• The Permanent Secretary for Provincial Development, Multi Ethnic Affairs, Disaster Management and Sugar
• The Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister
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Key Agencies

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• Fiji Red Cross
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