SUVA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Four people have been confirmed dead and one still missing after widespread flooding in the western part of Fiji as Tropical Cyclone Josie brought heavy rain throughout the Saturday night and Sunday.
According to Fijivillage, a Fiji leading news website, Director Operations Senior Superintendent of Police Livai Driu confirmed on Sunday night that five people have been washed away by flood waters and police have retrieved four bodies.
A woman was found dead in the town of Ba, 62 km from Fiji's third largest city of Nadi, a 55-year-old man was killed in Lautoka, Fiji's second largest city and two people have been found dead in Nadi, he said, adding that police are still searching for a 19-year-old man who was washed away by flood waters in Nadi.
Fiji's National Disaster Management Director Anare Leweniqila confirmed that 18 evacuation centers are now active in western part of Fiji, but he could not confirm how many people were in these evacuation centers by Sunday night.
By Sunday night, 70 roads were closed around the South Pacific Island state as a result of damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Josie. A statement from the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) said 21 roads were closed in the central part of the country, 47 in the west and two in the north.
The Fiji Meteorological Service has issued a strong wind warning for the rest of the country with the heavy rain warning still in place.