Tropical Cyclone Sarai is continuing to move closer to the Lau group while people in Kadavu are still experiencing some strong winds.
People in Kadavu as well as Matuku, Moala and Totoya in Lau are being urged to continue to remain on high alert as they should expect damaging storm force winds today while those of you in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Vatulele, Beqa, Mamanuca Group and Lomaiviti should expect gale-force winds.
TC Sarai was located at about 130km South East of Kadavu or about 120 kilometres South West of Matuku in Lau at 10am today.
The Nadi Weather Office says close to its centre, TC Sarai is expected to have average winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts of 150 kilometres per hour.
TC Sarai is moving East South East at about 10 kilometres per hour.
FORECAST FOR KADAVU, MATUKU, MOALA AND TOTOYA
Expect destructive storm force winds with average speeds of 110km/hr with momentary gusts to 150km/hr.
These storm force winds can cause damage to structures and many shallow rooted trees could be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Unplanned power outages are also expected.
Also expect very high seas and periods of heavy rain.
Coastal sea flooding to be expected during high tides if the cyclone centre passes nearby.
FORECAST FOR VITI LEVU, VANUA LEVU, TAVEUNI, MAMANUCA GROUP, BEQA AND VATULELE, LOMAIVITI GROUP AND REST OF THE LAU GROUP
Expect damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 80km/hr with momentary gusts to 100km/hr. High seas.
Expect high seas and occasional rain which will be heavy at times.
Localised heavy rain may lead to flash flooding of low lying areas.
Sea flooding to be expected during high tides if the cyclone centre passes by..
ANTICIPATED TRACK
The centre of Tropical Cyclone Sarai should be located about 80km south-southwest of Matuku or 190km west-southwest of Kabara at 6pm today and about 80km south-southeast of Matuku or 130km southwest of Kabara at 6am tomorrow.
ROADS SITUATION
Kings and Queens Highways are open.
The Fiji Roads Authority confirms the fallen tree along Queens Highway near the Service Station in Korolevu in Sigatoka has been cleared.
A number of roads in the Western Division are closed due to flooding.
In Sigatoka:
The Kavanagasau Crossing, Nabaka Crossing, Matewala Crossing, Tubarua Crossing, Nasau Crossing and the Nasatogo Crossing along Draubuta Road are closed.
In Ba:
The Balevuto Crossing, Etatoko Crossing, Cemetry Road Crossing, Navala Crossing, Babriban Crossing, Toge Crossing and Lewa Crossing are closed.
In Rakiraki:
The Mead Crossing, Vatukacevaceva Crossing, Nailawa Crossing, Vunikavikaloa Crossing and Burenitu Crossing are closed.
In Korovou:
The Navunisole Road, Wairua Settlement Road, Nawiwaivusa Road, Colata Cocoa Road, Old Kings Road and the Wailotua 2 Village Road are closed while the Soasoa Road is only restricted to light vehicles.
The Malamala Road in Nadi and the Buabua Road in Lautoka are also closed due to flooding.
Jetty Road in Kadavu is closed due landslide.
Power supply situation
By: Rashika Kumar
Energy Fiji Limited has slowly begun restoring electricity to critical areas such as hospitals and major health centres, water and sewerage treatment plants, town, cities and industrial areas while full restoration to all areas in Viti Levu could take up to one week.
This has been confirmed by EFL CEO Hasmukh Patel who says electricity has been restored to the CWM Hospital, Tavua Hospital, Ba Hospital, Lautoka Hospital, Nadi Hospital and Sigatoka Hospital.
Patel says strong winds caused damages to the electricity infrastructure, especially on the overhead lines cross arms and other associated accessories.
Patel adds that power supply in Viti Levu was affected and this meant that every metre of the power line has to be physically inspected, repaired where required, before it can be energised.
He says in order to energise the entire EFL network, they need to inspect the over 10,500km of power network and over 102,000 concrete and wooden poles which includes steel lattice towers in Viti Levu.
All major towns and cities have electricity.
80 percent of Suva and Lami have electricity while full restoration is expected to take place in 2 days.
75 percent of Nasinu has electricity which includes water and sewerage treatment plants, while full restoration is expected within 3 days.
50 percent of Nadi has electricity which includes water treatment plants, Nadi Town, commercial and industrial areas and some residential areas while full restoration is expected to happen by the end of the week.
Electricity has been restored to 60 percent of Lautoka which includes the City, commercial and industrial areas and some residential areas have electricity while full restoration is expected within the week.
Nausori Town, Nausori International Airport and other surrounding areas have electricity restored however, 70 percent of the areas in Nausori is still without electricity.
70 percent of Navua, Deuba and Pacific Harbour has electricity while full restoration is expected within 3 days.
60 percent of Ba has electricity which includes Ba Town, the water treatment plants and some residential areas.
Patel says full restoration is expected within the week ahead.
Power supply has been restored to 30 percent of areas in Sigatoka which includes the town, surrounding areas while full restoration is expected within the week.
Electricity has been restored to 30 percent of Rakiraki and Tavua.
Patel says it could take up to two weeks for electricity to be restored in Nadarivatu.
The CEO says some areas in Savusavu has electricity however, a few areas had to be isolated due to flooding and power supply to these areas will be restored as the water levels recede.
Some areas in Ovalau has electricity while full restoration is expected to take within 3 days.
He adds EFL teams at the various locations worked throughout Friday night while fine weather in most parts of the country yesterday allowed for swift restoration.
EFL has once again reminded the public to treat all broken power lines as live and to exercise appropriate precaution by staying away and keeping others away from all broken power lines.
He says rain associated with TC Sarai has helped with the inflows into the Monasavu and Nadarivatu Hydro Dams.
PM assures people affected by TC Sarai that help is on the way
By Naveel Krishant
Help is on the way.
That is the message from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to those who have been impacted by Tropical Cyclone Sarai.
On his official Facebook page, Bainimarama wrote the team is fully briefed, disaster and health officials are already on the ground in affected communities.
He says they are still accounting for the total damages from TC Sarai and will provide briefs as information is confirmed.
He has urged all Fijians to stay away from floodwaters.
Bainimarama is urging people to keep an eye on young children and says we must remain vigilant until the danger has completely passed.
Evacuation Centres
By: Semi Turaga
2, 538 people are now staying in 70 evacuation centres around the country.
This was confirmed by the National Disaster Management Office in an update at 8 o’clock this morning.
NDMO Director Vasiti Soko has already said that evacuation centres will remain open until the cancellation of the different flood warnings.
She says District Officers and first responders are also checking the homes of evacuees to see whether it is safe to return home.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
