Residents on River-Road in Narere are reeling after floodwaters surged into their homes, destroying most of their possessions and leaving them with only the clothes they were wearing.
The flooding began around 2 a.m. this morning and continued until approximately 6 a.m.
Ram Chandra, a 60-year-old resident who has lived in the River-Road settlement for over two decades, expressed that he has never faced such a disaster before. “Nothing was left because the floodwaters took everything. This is the first time something like this has happened; previously, floods would occur but never at this height,” he stated.
Another resident, Mohammed Dean, who moved to the area just six months ago, was taken aback by the chaos. He played a vital role in rescuing Chandra’s family when the floodwaters began entering their home.
“I woke up early this morning to hear my neighbors screaming, thinking they were fighting. When I looked over, I saw the water already halfway into their house. I was able to help them reach my home by climbing on an old fridge I found nearby because my house is positioned a bit higher,” Dean recounted.
Dean is now appealing to the government for assistance in constructing a new house, expressing concern for his family’s safety should a similar incident occur again. “I need the government to help me build a new house because the one we’re in now might not withstand another flood. Also, because this is not my house,” he said.
These families are among a small group severely affected by the heavy rainfall impacting Suva lately.