HEAVY GALE AT FIJI

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 5

HEAVY GALE AT FIJI

SEVERAL LIVES LOST.

MUCH DAMAGE REPORTED

An exceptionally heavy gale, resulting in loss of life, was experienced in tho Fijian Group on February 8 and 9. On the evenng of February 8 a strong wind .from the "south-erst sprang up_, increasing in velocity to almost hurricane force, accompanied by heavy rain squalls. As is always the case" when severe weather is impending, thousands of frigate birds appeared off the coast. By midnight the sea was- running high, and anxiety was beginning to be felt in Tavhmi, Levuka, and Suva. When day broke the wind had veered to the west, "and there was a tremendous sea running into Levuka Harbor. Through Sunday the outer reefs and foreshore at Levuka were a picture—a seething roam the whole reeflme. At high tide seas were dashing against the pile light and throwing their sprays right over it, while the inner harbor was a greatly disturbed compound, and huge waves were hurled along the sea waii from one end of the town to the other with tremendous force, great sheets of white spray being carried over the Toadway and buildings along the waterfront. It "was undoubtedly the heaviest sea experienced at Levuka for many years. The American schooner C'has. R-. Wilson, which had left for San Francisco on the Saturday, experienced the gale at sea. The vessel's sails were torn away, but she managed to make Levuka tmder a jib during the early hours of Sunday morning. During the gale several small cutters and launches in Levuka Harbor wero washed from their moorings and broken up on the reef. Telegraphic communication between Suva and Levuka was interrupted. Planters sustained loss through the blowing down of breadfruit trees and banana trees. , Much damage was sustained at Tailevu, Savu Savu, Nausori. and in other parts of the islands. At Mali, off Labasa, several people lost their lives. A fishing boat containing 11 people capsized. Of the 11 occupants, five were picked up, five are missing, and one is dead. The accident was-reported by a woman who was found in the mangrove forest on the foreshore in an exhausted state afler a great struggle to reach the shore in the tremendous seas.