Fiji: Flights cancelled as stormy weather sticks around

Shop owners clean up Nadi town. Photo / Baljeet Singh

Travel plans came to a standstill yesterday for people heading to Fiji, and there's little hope of stormy weather clearing in the next few days.

The main runway at Nadi International Airport was closed leaving travellers stranded in Fiji and disrupting the travel plans of at least 1000 in Auckland.

This morning Air Pacific confirmed that all inbound flights to the capital remained cancelled due to a request from Fiji's government that no additional passengers be flown into the country.

The airline said flights out of Nadi bound for Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland would depart this morning, however only passengers who were already checked in at the airport would be able to fly.

Air New Zealand said its scheduled flight out of Nadi this morning had also been cancelled.

Heavy rains on the west of the main island of Viti Levu caused rivers to burst their banks yesterday.

Two people have so far been confirmed dead and authorities are still trying to determine how many people are missing.

Officials said the rains were worse than the six-day deluge in January that claimed 11 lives.

Tutukaka resident Kate Malcolm was in Fiji for her sister's wedding when the storm hit. Malcolm told the Herald on Sunday a 800m stretch of road had been washed away and Navo Bridge been damaged.

The Dive Tutukaka manager is staying at the Intercontinental Resort and Spa with her daughter and partner, and said winds gusts reached between 40 to 60km/hr.

Malcolm said about 60 people had checked into the Intercontinental Hotel yesterday morning, after they had tried to reach Nadi airport and were turned back.

Her father, former Minister of Immigration Aussie Malcolm, had tried to leave Fiji yesterday. He told the Herald on Sunday he had flown by helicopter to Nadi airport hoping to get a flight out but found on arrival all flights leaving Fiji had been cancelled.

The hotel had begun to conserve water in preparation for resources running out. Malcolm said the running water had been shut off and all the restaurants apart from one had been closed.

Air Pacific advised affected passengers that they would be able to change their travel dates without fees and penalties as long as they did so by April 14. Those who wanted to cancel their travel plans to Fiji could request a full refund, the airline added.