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New Zealand will give up to $100,000 to help relief efforts in flood-stricken Fiji where seven people are feared dead and thousands homeless in the country's worst storms in a decade.
A state of emergency has been declared in Fiji with hundreds of New Zealanders are among tourists stranded by flooding in Nadi and more severe rain storms are expected in coming days.
Tourists in the popular resort area of Denarau Island were trapped after the only road to the airport was inundated, and people in low-lying areas were advised to move to higher ground as rivers burst their banks.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the funding would initially be made available to the Fiji Red Cross. Further allocations would be based on the needs of relief agencies.
It would be used to help replenish emergency stocks such as water containers, tarpaulins and medical supplies.
"This will help ensure they are able to continue to help people if further bad weather hits Fiji as forecast."
He said New Zealanders planning to visit Fiji should monitor the situation and stay in touch with their travel agents for up to date information.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs fielded one call from a New Zealander wanting advice, but issued a warning on its www.safetravel.govt.nz website that more flooding was expected later in the week.
Labour leader Phil Goff today voiced support for the move.
"These are the worst storms for many years, with a serious death toll and our hearts go out to the Fijians who are suffering," he said.
"While New Zealand currently has political difficulties working with Fiji, such difficulties do not cross over into the humanitarian area."
Dunedin couple Nick and Trish Giblin, their three children and a friend were supposed to leave the soaked country early yesterday morning.
However, the deluge saw their flight cancelled and their attempts to get across the main island of Viti Levu thwarted, Mrs Giblin told NZPA.
The family had been staying on outer island Nananu-I-Ra for about a month when the storm hit. They were able to make it back to the Nadi on Friday when there was a lull in the weather.
But their taxi trip to one of the main towns, Ba, had to be abandoned due to the high floodwaters.
The family and four others were forced to stay the night at the taxi driver's house.
On Saturday they almost made it to Ba, but had to wait for five hours next to a raging river.
"There were no police, no army, there was absolutely no one who offered help or advice to the 40 cars waiting with us," Mrs Giblin said.
She said after a back road was cleared they were able to reach Ba 3km away but it still took about 40 minutes and three tows by a 4WD.
She said they arrived to "a terrible mess".
"People were standing outside their shops with all their products covered in mud. It looked very sad really."
Locals had told her it was the biggest flood to hit the island in living memory.
The family were now waiting for flights to leave Fiji.
Since the storm hit last week, power and telephone lines have been cut, drinking water is limited and hundreds of holidaymakers have been left stranded.
The main towns of Nadi, Rakiraki and Ba were swamped after being pelted by more than 200mm of rain since Friday.
The weather was not expected to significantly improve for another two days.
House of Travel spokesman Brent Thomas told The New Zealand Herald that 600 New Zealanders were currently in Fiji and stuck in their resorts. A further 500 were expected to visit Fiji this week.
"Although this is traditionally a low season for Fiji tourism because of the rain, quite a few New Zealanders were still on the New Year holiday," he said.
"Until the weather pattern changes on the island, nothing is happening - they are stuck in their resorts."
But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the High Commission in Fiji has had no reports of New Zealanders needing assistance.
In the flood-ravaged towns of Nadi, Ba and Sigatoka, police imposed a curfew to curb looting and ensure public safety after heavy rain and flooding over the past four days.
"There is no power in the main town business district and other areas like Narewa Village where 15 to 20 houses are under water," Nadi Mayor Timoci Koroiqica told the FijiLive website.
Ba Mayor Pravin Bala said the town was under more than 1m of water at high tide.
"Police are now monitoring movement in the town area and trying to restrict people from coming into town because one life has been lost already and we don't want that to be repeated."
Fiji's National Disaster Management Centre reported at least 1150 people had been evacuated from their homes.
But the authority today said the water was receding in some areas.
In a written statement, disaster management officer Aisea Quminakelo said in other areas rivers were reportedly rising and would reach "critical level" this afternoon.
"Those living in low lying areas have been forewarned to evacuate to higher grounds or seek shelter at nearby evacuation centres," Mr Quminakelo said.
He said in the west, Laselase village in Nadroga was underwater and all residents had been evacuated to higher round.
Mr Quminakelo said areas in central Fiji had also been flooded and evacuated, while in the north, water levels had receded.
"The Nadi Weather Office has again warned that the situation may worsen by next week as another tropical Depression is likely to approach Fiji by next Wednesday bringing stronger winds and heavy rainfall," he said.
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
