Residents of 8 Miles River-Road in Narere are reeling after a sudden flood inundated their homes, causing significant destruction and leaving them with only the clothes they were wearing.
The flooding began around 2 am today and persisted until 6 am, leading to extensive damage. Ram Chandra, a 60-year-old resident who has lived in the River-Road settlement for over two decades, expressed his disbelief, stating this was the first time he had experienced such a severe flood.
“Nothing was left because the flood waters took everything. This is the first time for something like this to happen because before, flood waters used to come but never this high,” Chandra said.
Another resident, Mohammed Dean, who moved to the area just six months ago, was shocked by the level of destruction. He was instrumental in helping Chandra’s family escape the rising waters.
“I woke up this morning to my neighbors’ screams and thought they were fighting, but when I looked over, I saw the water halfway into their house. I was able to get them to safety by having them climb over an old fridge because my house is a bit higher,” Dean recounted.
Dean is now appealing for government assistance to build a new home, expressing concern for his family’s safety in case of another flood. “I need the government to help me build a new house because the one we’re staying in might not be able to support us if this happens again. Also, because this is not my house,” he said.
These families are among a small number who have been impacted by the heavy rainfall that has been affecting Suva recently.