State of emergency declared in Fiji after severe storms by Dan Corbett
A state of emergency has been declared across parts of Fiji after severe storms and floods hit the island over the weekend. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes, after four days of torrential rain caused flooding and landslides.
The heavy rain was caused by a tropical depression to the north of the island which brought heavy rain and strong winds. Due to its location south of the equator, Fiji has a wet season between the months of November and April, however the amount and intensity of the rainfall over the past few days is considered unusual.
Forecasters at the Fiji Meteorological Office expect further heavy rain and thunderstorms to lash the region for the rest of the week. Strong wind warnings remain in effect for Vanau Levu, Northern Lau and Yasawas in the north of the country, with many regions still on flood alert.
