Major tourist town in Fiji is battered by Tropical Cyclone Josie – with five people feared dead

A popular tourist town in Fiji is under water after Tropical Cyclone Josie developed overnight.

Nadi, a city located on the west coast of Fiji’s main island, was hit with heavy rains and strong winds as floodwaters swept away cars and flooded shopfronts.

All roads connecting to the city centre have been closed, and it is believed that a number of homes have been completely flooded, causing residents to seek refuge on their roofs.

Tropical Cyclone Josie hit the tourist town of Nadi, on the west coast of Fiji’s main island, overnight

Floodwaters ravaged the city, with cars being swept away and shopfronts becoming completely submerged

Floodwaters ravaged the city, with cars being swept away and shopfronts becoming completely submerged

Images uploaded to social media show vehicles and entire streets submerged under several metres of water.

Five people have been reported missing, feared dead. 

Locals are crying out for aid, prayers and provisions as the town is ravaged by the catastrophic storm.

‘Nadi town and some villages are all drown,’ reads one Facebook caption.

All roads connecting to the city have been closed in the wake of the catastrophic storm

All roads connecting to the city have been closed in the wake of the catastrophic storm

Images uploaded to social media demonstrate the extent of the damage as locals appeal for aid

Images uploaded to social media demonstrate the extent of the damage as locals appeal for aid

It is believed that several homes in the area have been completely flooded, causing locals to seek refuge on rooftops

It is believed that several homes in the area have been completely flooded, causing locals to seek refuge on rooftops

Another implores: ‘If you’re coming later to Fiji, please help us as we’ve lost food, water, clothes.’  

Cyclone Josie was upgraded to a category one overnight, and is now moving in an east-southeast direction at 25km/h, with winds of up to 100km/h expected to develop.

It is not currently known whether the cyclone will hit Australia’s east coast.

Five people have been reported missing, feared dead, since the storm passed through Nadi overnight

Five people have been reported missing, feared dead, since the storm passed through Nadi overnight



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