Cyclone Oli crosses French Polynesia

Last Updated: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:36:00 +1100

Tropical Cyclone Oli has claimed its first life as it batters French Polynesia.

A man on the southern island of Tubuai was reportedly washed out to sea by a wave.

The Cyclone is expected to hit the Austral Island group later tonight, and authorities say they will only be able to send help once the bad weather has passed.

After damaging hundreds of buildings and cutting power to a fifth of the main islands of Tahita and Moorea, there are now serious concerns for Rurutu and particularly for Tubuai - which are part of the Austral Islands.

Caroline Lafargue from Radio Australia's French service is in Papeete and says the French High Commission is already preparing to send relief to the island after the storm.

"It's a really remote island that's two hours away by plane from Papeete so there's no way we could evacuate the 2,000 inhabitants and the High Commission is preparing the after cyclone because this island is going to be completed isolated in the next 48 hours," she said.

After damaging hundreds of buildings and cutting power to a fifth of the main islands of Tahita and Moorea, there are now serious concerns for Rurutu and particularly for Tubuai - which are part of the Austral Islands.

Tubuai's 2,100 inhabitants have moved to highter ground ahead of the area's worst storm in living memory.

Alain Gylphe is on Tubuai and says residents have sought higher ground, as there's nowhere else to go.

"It is impossible to leave the island, there is no plane, no ship, and no it's a high island," he said.

"We have water ... and all we need."

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