In anticipation of the approaching Tropical Cyclone, the Ministry of Disaster Management has taken proactive measures, announcing the closure of schools for tomorrow and Wednesday.

According to Minister, Sakiasi Ditoka, following their briefing with the Fiji Metrological Office today, tropical depression TD02F will intensify into a tropical cyclone between 6pm to 9pm today.

He says it will further intensify into category two by tomorrow morning, and they do not expect it to become a category three cyclonic event; however, this can change subject to the environment around it.

“We expect the category two system to be out of the Fiji group by Thursday. Current model indicates that category two system will not make landfall on Viti Levu. However it will pass closely to the South West of VitiLevu.

He says they have also been closely liaising with the Ministry of Education and Ministry for Civil Service.

“There will be no school from tomorrow and Wednesday. All civil servants are to work from home from tomorrow. We will review this decision tomorrow afternoon and advise the civil servants accordingly. For sea transportation, in consultation with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji I can confirm all sea transport will cease operation from tomorrow. In terms of Land Transport we continue to plead with motorists to exercise caution while out of our roads.”

National Disaster Management Officer Director Vasiti Soko says Fijians should brace themselves for potential flooding and river flooding.

She says their major concern at the moment is heavy rainfall.

“Heavy rain in force now for whole of Fiji and that’s our current priority, making sure that areas that are normally flooded, that we have enough time for families to move to evacuation centres.”

The National Emergency Operation Center has also been activated to ensure a coordinated response.

Furthermore, one evacuation center has already been put into action in the Yasawas, demonstrating swift actions taken to safeguard the affected communities.