Residents of 8 Miles River-Road in Narere are reeling from the impact of floodwaters that surged into their homes, leaving them with little more than the clothes they were wearing. The flooding began around 2 a.m. and lasted until 6 a.m., wreaking havoc in the area.
One affected resident, 60-year-old Ram Chandra, has lived in the River-Road settlement for over two decades and stated that this is the first instance of such severe flooding he has ever encountered. “Nothing was left because the floodwaters took everything. This is the first time something like this has happened because previously, while floodwaters would come, they never reached this high,” he shared.
Mohammed Dean, another resident who moved to the settlement just six months ago, expressed his disbelief about the sudden disaster. He played a vital role in rescuing Chandra’s family as floodwaters invaded their home. “I woke up early this morning to my neighbors’ screams, thinking they were fighting. But when I looked over, I saw the water already halfway into their house. I managed to help them reach my house by climbing on an old fridge that was nearby, as mine is situated a bit higher,” he recounted.
Dean is now appealing to the government for aid in constructing a new home because he fears for his family’s safety should a similar situation arise in the future. “I need the government to assist me in building a new house because the one we are currently in may not withstand another flood. Also, this is not my property,” he stated.
These families are among the few impacted by the heavy rainfall that has been affecting Suva recently.