Breaking Earth News: Fiji Island, South PacificMarch 12, 2007
Five people have drowned in flash floods in Fiji after a weekend of torrential rain, local media reports.
Three bodies had been recovered after rivers burst their banks around Labasa, the main town on Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu, officials said.
Thirteen people managed to escape the rising floodwaters by clinging to tree tops, Fiji TV reported.
The South Pacific island chain has been hit by heavy rains in recent weeks, washing away homes and roads.
The north and west of Fiji have been the worst hit.
Meteorological chief Rajendra Prasad told local radio, "Floods here are quite common, but not as prolonged as the case we are having right now. There has been two weeks of just continuous periods of rain."
