Fiji Returns to Normal After Floods

Flood-ravaged Fiji insisted it was "business as usual" for the South Pacific nation's tourism industry, ETurboNews is reporting. Officials have confirmed the death toll from recent downpours had risen to five.

More than 11,000 people were still in evacuation centers, but the ministry of information said power was being restored to flood-hit towns and some schools on the main island had reopened.

The military regime's permanent secretary for tourism Elizabeth Powell said resorts were ready to welcome the international travelers who are responsible for about a third of the country's gross domestic product. The Fiji government asked international airlines to temporarily stop bringing tourists into the country earlier this week as thousands of travelers struggled to get home.

But flights were operating normally Wednesday at Nadi international airport, which was cut off at the height of the flooding. Health ministry spokesman Peni Nomuto said the number of people in evacuation centers was expected to drop significantly in coming days as people were able to return to their homes.