A family in Sawani has lost their home and possessions after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall and flooding. Homeowner Ranjeev Prasad reported that the landslide struck early yesterday morning around 5 am. He explained that the family had to evacuate quickly, leaving all their personal belongings behind to avoid being buried in the mud.
Mr. Prasad mentioned that they had lived in the house for over 37 years and this was the first time they had experienced such a disaster. He described hearing cracking sounds before witnessing the mud cascading down outside his window. “My clothes and our belongings are all inside the house; we must start from scratch again,” he stated. For the time being, the family plans to stay with neighbors while they determine their next steps. He anticipates that clearing their home of debris could take a couple of months.
Additionally, Deepak Vishal Narayan, owner of Narayan Motors Service Station Ltd, expressed that his business has suffered significantly due to the landslide, which damaged refrigerators and food items in his shop. He noted that the closure of the service station has impacted the surrounding community, and they will remain closed until safety inspections and cleanup efforts are completed.
The Fiji Meteorological Service has indicated that associated cloud and rain are expected to affect the Central, Eastern, and Northern divisions of the country today. In response, the National Disaster Management Office has advised residents in the impacted areas of Vatuwaqa and Wailoku in Suva to relocate to nearby evacuation centers. The designated centers include St. Marcellin Primary School, Marist Champagnat Institute, and Marata Hall in Wailoku.
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