TWELVE-thousand people were stranded yesterday at Koronivia and Lokia settlements in Nausori as roads were under eight and nine feet of flood water.
Resident Jitend Maharaj said the roads had been under water since Sunday afternoon. "There is no boat for transport, we have to get off at the main Koronivia road and walk our way home because the taxis and the buses aren't able to go through," Mr Maharaj said.
Punts and fibreglass boats were used to transport the Lokia settlers yesterday when The Fiji Times arrived at the Ram Pati store in the area.
The Burenicagi bridge was under eight feet of water and the Waitovu bridge was also submerged under the same level of water.
The Nakaikogo Sanatan Dharam Primary School manager Ramesh Prasad said the school was opened as an evacuation centre.
"We have a family there and more will follow if the Rewa River rises more," Mr Prasad said.
Commissioner Central Laisenia Tuitubou says police officers in the area are monitoring the situation as teams have been deployed to patrol the villages of Muana, Vunisea, Navatuyaba, Tawakelevu, Koroibici who have been affected by the rising flood waters.
"We also have police on the lookout for children swimming in the rivers and we have been chasing these kids away and urge parents to monitor them," he said.