Worst yet to come for Fiji

Fijian weather forecasters say the worst is yet to come for the flood-hit islands.

Torrential rain and flooding has caused the death of two people and the evacuation of 1,400 others in recent days.

Fijian authorities are expected to declare a state of emergency with up to 12 centimetres of rain recorded in some parts.

A forecaster with the Nadi weather service says it has been raining non-stop for the past 24 hours and will continue to do so until at least midnight tonight, and through to the end of the weekend.

"Floodwaters should be receding by tomorrow with a break in rain, we are looking at rain to ease but not clear on Thursday and Friday," he says.

Ministry of Information spokeswoman, Sharon Johns, says their major concern is that it is continuing to rain.

"40 or 50 millimeters an hour up in some areas, the rivers are still rising slowly, we're just taking stock of everything at the moment and just waiting for this to peak."

She says emergency services are stretched, but coping.

Ms Johns says no tourist resorts are in danger of flooding, but the issue for holiday makers is getting to and from the airport.

Flights are running to schedule at the moment.