Five dead in Fiji flash floods: Report

Suva, Mar 12: Five Fijians have drowned in flash flooding caused by torrential rain in the northern and western part of the South Pacific island chain, local media said today.

A further 13 people escaped being swept away by floodwaters by clinging to a tree top, Fiji media reported.

Heavy rains in recent weeks have caused widespread flooding on Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levua and the west coast of its main island Viti Levu, washing away homes, roads and damaging sugar cane farms.

Authorities said five people had died in the flooding since Friday, Fiji radio said, adding police had recovered the bodies of three people killed on Vanua Levu and were searching for others reported missing.

While the rains had eased today, a flash flood warning remained in place in northern Fiji, said weather officials.

''There is still the possibility of flash flooding in low lying areas, but it will be more localised than large scale flooding,'' Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service Rajendra Prasad told local radio.

''Floods here are quite common, but not as prolonged as the case we are having right now. There has been two weeks of just continuous periods of rain,'' Prasad said.

Reuters