ISLAND STORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 3

ISLAND STORM.

CYCLONE LASHES SAMOA. FLOODS CAUSE HAVOC. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON", Thursday. Adverse effects of a tropical cyclone centred between Fiji and Tonga have been ieJt in Samoa, states a Press Association cablegram received from Apia last night. The disturbance commenced on Saturday afternoon, when stormy weather occurred, with high seas. The wind increased by nine o'clock at night to a moderate gala, which continued all night and reached gale force on Sunday, with a maximum velocity in gusts of (io miles an hour. The same conditions prevailed on Monday, until the afternoon, when the gale moderated and settled to moderate to fresh north-east winds. With the gale came a terrific rainfall, 12in falling on Sunday and 16in on Monday. There were lOin of rain between 9 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. on Monday. Heavy damage resulted from the flooding of the hydro-electric plant and the water works, and telephones were put out of commission. At \ aisagano the river rose sft above normal. It washed down trees, Samoan houses and live stock. All the villages on the beach were under water. Several bridges were washed out and o there were damaged beyond repair. The Vaisagano Bridge still stands, although badly damaged. The damage to roads was enormous, from washouts and landslides. Private property also suffered severely. The damage to roads and bridges on Government works is estimated at £40,000. All plantations, including bananas, are reported to have been damaged. >"o lives are reported to have been lost.