THE Fiji Meteorological Service office at Laucala Bay in Suva was demolished yesterday to make way for the new $3.6million weather office.
Deputy Secretary Transport Malakai Tadulala did the honors in demolishing the wooden building that was destroyed by a fire in 2008.
Mr Tadulala said the demolition of the 70-year old wooden building would make way for a permanent building that could stay for another 100 years.
Fiji Meteorological Services deputy director Aminiasi Tuidraki said since the establishment of the old station in Suva, it had played a unique and prominent role in contributing to the safety and welfare of humanity in Fiji.
"Under its weather and climate services, the Fiji Meteorological Services has contributed substantially to the protection of life and property against natural disasters to safeguard the environment," Mr Tuidraki said.
"FMS also has planned to upgrade the Suva office to operate as a back up to the Nadi forecasting centre in terms of weather forecasting, climate prediction and supply of information to the nation as a whole," he said.
Meanwhile, the weather office has forecast cloudy periods with some showers over the interior and eastern parts of the larger islands today.
In an interview on Tuesday, Fiji Meterorological Services director Alipate Waqaicelua said: "Fiji is moving into the wet and cyclone season and due to the transition, the atmosphere is waking up".
He had said that rain would also be experienced over most parts of the country until the weekend.