Businesses in several towns across the western division, including Ba and Rakiraki, have experienced disruptions due to severe weather conditions. Many businesses were forced to close as rising water levels inundated shops.
Moshin Khan, the Special Administrator of the Ba Town Council, emphasized that the decision to temporarily shut down Ba Town during the flooding was necessary to safeguard local businesses. He, along with his team, has been coordinating efforts with the Ba Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Fiji National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDMO), Fiji Police, and the National Fire Authority (NFA) to address the situation.
On Friday, Ba Main Street was initially open but started to close around 1 PM to 2 PM. The Market Arcade faced flooding that began early in the morning at around 7 AM.
In Tavua, health inspector Serevi Nabura confirmed that the MaxVal-U supermarket had to close for the day, while Tavua town remained operational despite flooding near the Shop N Shop supermarket caused by river overflow. Rakiraki town also experienced closures as rising water from the creek impacted the area.
In contrast, Nadi Town Council chief executive officer Muni Reddy reported that businesses in Nadi resumed normal operations as many began their clean-up efforts. Similarly, Suresh Naidu, chairman of the Nadroga Navosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that business activities in rugby town continued as usual.
This situation underscores the resilience of communities and their ability to come together during challenging times. Despite the setbacks, local agencies and businesses are working diligently to recover and restore operations, demonstrating a collective commitment to navigating the aftermath of the adverse weather conditions.
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