5 people lucky to be alive after rental car was swept by flood waters

Five people are lucky to be alive after the rental car they were travelling in was swept away by flood waters when they were trying to cross the flooded Yaqara bridge in Rakiraki last night.

Police says that three adults and two children were in the rental car.

Police Chief of Operations ACP Rusiate Tudravu says the family was rescued and the car was found this morning at a nearby field.

Tudravu stressed that with the heavy rain and flood warning still in place, Police are reiterating the need to take heed of the safety advice to avoid loss of life and putting others in danger.

Meanwhile Tudravu has confirmed that they have deployed a team to search for a 15-year-old boy who was swept away by strong current while trying to swim across the Waioli River after 6 this morning.

He says that the 15-year-old boy from Lutu village in Wainibuka is reported to have touched a live electric wire and was swept away by the strong current.