Tropical Cyclone Josie is moving away from the Fiji group but the category one cyclone has caused severe flooding in parts of the country.
Tropical Cyclone Josie causes major flooding in Fiji's Ba Photo: Fiji Village
Fiji Village online reports four people have died and one person is still missing after being washed away by flood waters.
Police have confirmed that they are continuing the search for a 19-year-old man who was washed away by flood waters in Sabeto Nadi.
#TCJosie is causing flooding, high winds, power cuts and some evacuations in #Fiji. Stay safe everyone.
— New Zealand Red Cross (@NZRedCross) April 1, 2018
Tropical Cyclone Josie was about 200km south south-west of Kadavu at 3pm local time and it has damaging gale force winds with average speed of up 65km/h and momentary gusts of up to 90km/h.
Cyclone Josie is moving south east at 7km/h.
A threat map of Cyclone Josie. Photo: Supplied / Fiji Met Service
People are being urged to continue to take necessary precautions as a flood warning is still in force for many areas in Viti Levu especially the Western Division.
FBC News says that according to the National Disaster Management Office more than 1,000 people have gone to evauation centres.
It also reports that a ship MV Spirit of Altruism hit a reef amid engine problems and is stuck just past Levuka.
The more than 130 passengers are expected to be transferred to another ship being sent.
Flooding in Ba Town at 3.52pm (01-Apr-2018): https://t.co/IMv3zwaQuJ via @YouTube
— Fijivillage (@fijivillage) April 1, 2018
People living in Viti Levu, Yasawa and Mamanuca group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti Group should expect strong winds.
The strong winds could bring down some temporary shelters and also damage crops.
People can continue to expect rain as a heavy rain warning remains in force for Fiji.
Power outages
Residents in Ba and Tavua are without power supply.
As of Sunday night, the Fiji Electricity Authority or FEA says the current weather conditions experienced over the Fiji group has caused a lot of faults within the electricity infrastructure including others.
Customers in Ba District have no power supply as FEA have not been able to access the Rarawai Zone Substation due to flooding.
In the Sigatoka District: over 50 percent of its customers are being supplied power from the Sigatoka Diesel Power Station.
In the Nadi District: 80 percent of its customers are being supplied power from the Vuda Diesel Power Station, Nadi Diesel Power Station and the Nadarivatu Hydro Power Station.
For the Lautoka District, 90 percent of the customers are being supplied power.
Rakiraki town and the surrounding areas have been switched on using the Rakiraki Diesel Power Station. However, the remaining areas of Rakiraki will be inspected today once the flood waters recede.
There have also been a few faults and damages in the Central Division which has affected power supply to customers in Navua, Koronivia, Korovou & Vunidawa areas.
The Fiji Electricity Authority teams have been working cautiously and safely to repair and restore power supply to these affected areas.
Meanwhile, flood waters in many of these areas are restricting movement of personnel.
The public is advised to stay away from power lines.
Fiji roads
Some roads have reopened in flood affected parts in the Western Division as water levels continue to slowly recede.
Twenty-seven roads are closed in Central Division, seven roads closed in Northern Division and 40 roads closed in Western Division
Motorists are advised to please keep a safe following distance, avoid speeding and avoid areas with water over the road.
All roads are open in the Eastern Division but there's an increased number of potholes on the road network.
Fiji Roads Authority contractors will be carrying out remedial work as soon as the weather clears up.
Major flooding in Ba, Fiji. Photo: Fiji Village
