Rarotongans were well prepared for cyclone

Press, 6 January 1987, Page 1

Rarotongans were well prepared for cyclone

By

GEOFF SPENCER,

of AAP (through NZPA) in Rarotonga

Early warning and adequate preparation — and luck — gave the tiny Polynesian island of Rarotonga a nil death toll despite the ferocity of Cyclone Sally, which tore through the Cook Islands group over the week-end with wind gusts of up to 200 km/h.

Reports from outlying centres in the islands group make no mention of casualties among the 20,000 islanders. The islands had three days warning of potential disaster, and some Rarotongans left their homes before it struck to shelter in schools prepared as evacuation centres. Their numbers swelled to more than 1000 as homes lost their roofs to Sally’s fury. Yesterday most evacuees had left the shelters to stay with relatives or in their own homes under tarpaulins. Rarotonga was slowly returning to normal yesterday, although power and water' supplies re-, mained erratic. The local authorities say public utilities can be restored only after supplies and equipment are received from other countries.

The Waterfront Commission’s general manager, loane Iro, said it would take at least $12.8 milliop,4o rebuild Rarotonga’s bnly port which was all but destroyed by a, huge tidal wave early Saturday morning. The scene is one of devastation with corrugated iron warehouses twisted under the weight of tonnes of coral boulders swept on to the

shore. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

“The harbour looked like it was a washing machine. Boats were just simply lifted out of the water and on to the beach. We’ve lost our dredging barge. It has either been sunk or it is hundreds of miles out to sea. Without it no ship can dock here.”

Other officials say the Cook Islands will have to rely on airborne supplies perhaps for several weeks although there are plans to offload cargo vessels out at sea and bring vital food and building supplies in by small boats.

Some Australian ‘ and New Zealand tourists were taken home on two flights. Another aircraft will leave for Sydney this afternoon.

Many tourists have opted to stay out their holiday time here and rough it because they are hot carrying holiday insurance.

Hundreds of homes and other buildings werd destroyed by high winds and huge seas. “The wind was incredible,” said a hotelier, Mr Des Eggleton.

“For 48 hours it was like a row of 10 747 s winding up their engines and blasting us.

“The wind would die down a little and then just bear down on us.”

Today the Cook Islands Prime Minister, Sir Tom Davis, and other Government officials will go by RNZAF Hercules to badly hit outlying islands in the group for the first time since Sally struck. With radio links restored, officials say damage appears limited, to crops. Like the main island of Rarotonga there have been no serious casualties.

Although private insurers yesterday estimated damage at between $12.8 and $19.2 million, Sir Tom stuck by his figure of around $44.8 million.

Offers of international aid have begun pouring in including a hefty contribution from France.

Speaking to AAP immediately after an RNZAF Hercules arrived with emergency power equipment and army engineers, Sir Tom Davis said the French had promised to rebuild 100 homes destroyed by the Cyclone Sally. A senior French politician, Mr Gaston Flosse, flew into Rarotonga from Tahiti soon after the storm had passed on Sunday, also promising heavy earth moving equipment which would arrive by sea within two weeks.