Taxi drivers in Apia have voiced concerns about the frequent flooding at Fugalei, fearing it could cause costly damage to their vehicles. 

As the rain continues to pelter Samoa, the Fugalei, Taufusi and other areas in town continue to experience flooding because of blocked waterways.

The issue has become more urgent as roads are getting damaged with most roads having potholes that pose a risk to vehicles and pedestrians.

Toeaso, a taxi driver from the I Love Samoa Taxi Stand, explained how flooding poses a risk to their cars. 

"We’re worried the water might get into the engine or damage the battery," he said.

Despite these risks, Toeaso and other drivers remain committed to serving their customers. 

"Even though we’re trying to avoid the flooded areas, we can’t stop working. We have regular customers to pick up and drop off," he added.

However, Toeaso stressed the financial burden of potential flood-related damage. "If anything happens to the car because of the flood, we are the ones who have to pay for repairs," he noted.

The ongoing flooding issue at Fugalei continues to disrupt daily life, prompting calls for better drainage solutions to prevent future incidents and reduce risks for both drivers and the public.

Business owners in Taufusi have also expressed concerns as flood waters enter their premises.

The Land Transport Authority has said that the band-aid fix will continue as they need finances to overhaul the drainage issue and raise the road. LTA staff were on site in Fugalei doing their best to get rid of the flooded water on the road.

There were also reports of a landslide in Solosolo which was cleared by LTA on Thursady. LTA has been keeping a watch and proactively clearing roads wherever possible.