A retaining wall at a construction site near Nepani collapsed early this morning, leading to damage in nearby residential areas, including a parked vehicle.
The incident took place around 2 a.m., startling residents with a loud noise.
Kunal Chand, who bought his car in March, was devastated to discover it buried under the rubble. Having lived in the area for a year, he never anticipated such a disaster would occur. “This is my first car, and it was completely unexpected. I usually come home late and park in that exact spot. I never thought this would happen; I was not prepared at all,” he remarked.
Describing his shock, he said, “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came out and saw it buried under the debris.”
The collapse also impacted at least two other families whose homes were in close proximity to the wall. Chand criticized the construction company, questioning how it remains operational after such an incident.
The construction company explained that the collapse resulted from heavy rain the night before, stating, “It is a construction site, and work is still ongoing.” When reporters visited the scene, workers were observed removing construction signs from the property.
Chand emphasized the need for construction firms to prioritize the safety of nearby residents and conduct proper assessments before commencing development projects.
He has requested a temporary vehicle from the construction company to help him get to work, but was told to rely on his insurance instead. “This morning, I spoke with the owner of the construction site, and he suggested that I file a claim with my insurance instead of theirs, as their property insurance might take longer,” he explained.
“I asked for a temporary vehicle so I could at least have transportation to work, but they simply denied my request,” he lamented.
Residents are now urging for stricter regulations on construction projects near residential neighborhoods to prevent similar incidents in the future. Fiji One News has reached out to the Ministry of Local Government and the local council for comments and is awaiting their responses.