Hundreds of people were sheltering in evacuation centres as another tropical storm took aim at Fiji, officials said Saturday, as the South Pacific island nation went on high alert.
The storm was brewing east of Vanuatu and was expected to strengthen as it neared Fiji early next week.
"The concern for the weekend is strong winds, heavy rain, flooding of low lying areas and rivers," the Fiji Meteorological Service said in a statement.
It comes a week after Cyclone Josie caused widespread flooding and left five people dead with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama blaming climate change and warning Fiji had entered a "frightening new era".
National Disaster Management Office director Anare Leweniqila told Radio New Zealand the weather system has the potential to develop into a category one cyclone.
"A cyclone warning has been issued early for the whole of the Fiji group as the tropical depression approaches the country, making people aware of the situation early," he said as heavy rain saw flood waters begin to rise again.
Flooding in Ba Town, Fiji after Cyclone Josie. Source: Facebook
The Australian government's Smart Traveller website urged visitors to exercise normal safety precautions and to check with their airlines or tour operators for any disruptions to flights.
"The system has potential to produce heavy rainfall and strong winds which could exacerbate the flooding and damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Josie. Avoid travel in low-lying areas and regions that are flooded," a message on the website stated.
"The heavy rainfall and winds may cause disruptions to flights to and from Nadi airport and road closured in the Western and Northern Division. See the Fiji Meteorological Service and check with your airline or tour operator."
By noon Saturday (0000 GMT), flooding had forced hundreds of people to take shelter in evacuation centres in the north and west of Fiji.
"At about 6 am this morning, our area was flooded and we started preparing ourselves because police had arrived to take us to the evacuation centre," Laisa Vunitiko, from the village of Vulovi on Vanua Levu island, told the Fiji Times.
The Times said 490 families had taken shelter in the north while the National Disaster Management Office reported 192 people were in evacuation centres in the west.
