Works Minister Savenaca Draunidalo said it was a national disaster, with more than 50,000 families in a country of 840,000 people beginning to suffer the impact as most of the main water sources dry up.

In large parts of Suva trucks are delivering water after the mains dried up.

The Public Works Department said it was doing all it could to tackle the problem.

"We realise the difficulty people are facing and would just like to assure them that we are doing everything possible to restore normal supply to affected areas," senior water engineer Samuela Tabui said.

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry last week called for urgent help for sugar farmers.

Blistering heat is resulting in sugarcane fires and a sugar mill said the supply of cane was dropping sharply.

Fiji's wettest island, Taveuni, has also reported it was running out of water.

The main island of Vanua Levu obtains 80 percent of its electricity from the Monasavu hydro-electricity station but it may shortly have to halt production.

Fiji Electricity Authority chairman Joe Mar said Monasavus level was critical and within a week of forcing the station's closure.

Suva mayor Chandu Umaria said the Fiji Mayors Association was meeting to discuss the crisis.

TERRA.WIRE