Authorities in Fiji in the South Pacific, has ordered all schools to be closed due to heavy rains that affected the city last weekend.
Fiji Meteorological Service has warned, that weather conditions are likely to worsen in the coming days, adding that roads and settlements in low-lying areas could be flooded.
The authority also said that infrastructure near riverbanks could be damaged and significant disruptions to traffic flow and transport routes could ensue.
Schools across the Pacific island country have been told to close on owing to the adverse weather condition. This decision was made by the National Disaster Management Office and the Ministry of Education.
“This decision was solely done for the safety of our children . The safety of all civil servants is also paramount. Upon consultation with the active permanent secretary for civil service, non-essential civil servants are encouraged to seek permission from their supervisors for earlier release. This is to allow them to prepare their families, communities and properties for the impending adverse weather.
“With continuous rainfall recorded in the last couple of days, the soil will be saturated, therefore the risk of landslides occurring remains. Strong winds with rough to very rough seas are expected over Fiji waters,” said Vasiti Soko, director of the office.