Tongan capital escapes worst of cyclone damage

Last Updated: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:28:00 +1100

Tonga appears to have escaped major damage despite being battered by Tropical Cyclone Rene.

The cyclone carried winds in excess of 200 kilometres per hour as it pounded the main island of Tongatapu, including the capital Nuku'alofa.

But power and water are still out of action on the main island and services may not be restored until tomorrow.

In the meantime, people are having to rely on water tanks for drinking and washing.

Local journalist Pesi Fonua told Pacific Beat a combination of factors appear to have prevented more damage.

"I think we did very well, we came out better than we were expecting," he said.

"We were expecting a very strong and very intense wind but but we got away light and the direction of the winds were in the right place for the high tides and we really didn't get the tidal surge that we thought we were going to get."

Outer islands suffer worst

The cyclone mainly struck the Ha'apai and northern Vava'u group of islands in Tonga, and government radio is reporting that most fruit trees and many other crops have been destroyed.

Some buildings have collapsed or damaged in Ha'apai.

Tonga's police commissioner, Chris Kelley, says an aerial assessment was underway.

"We've had widespread damage here to crops and vegetation, banana plantations, coconut plantations," he said.

"There's been considerable damage to buildings. Roofs ripped off, roofing iron, windows blown out. Powerlines are down, powers been out all night there's a lot of extensive damage whether or not it is long lasting remains to be seen but it is certainly extensive overnight."

Most communications and power were also knocked out in the cyclone.

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