Northern and central Tonga were slammed by Cyclone Rene, with powerful winds ripping off roofs, tearing down trees and power lines and cutting communications with the capital in the south of the country, officials said.

Initial reports were that the storm’s winds had reached 115 km/h near the main northern town of Neiafu, then dropped to just 13 km/h as the cyclone’s eye passed over the area.
The station manager’s house, which is behind the radio station, lost its roof and only one room was habitable, said the president of UCB Pacific Partners, Graham Carter. Mr Carter said the station’s roof was leaking and a new concrete block radio station being constructed had also suffered a setback as some of the walls had blown over. “We have to give the project to replace the manager’s house and the old radio station building top priority this year,” said Mr Carter. “We will have to raise money and will probably take over a team of builders from New Zealand or the United States before the next cyclone season” (December to March). The walls of the new project would have to be reset and finished off this year.  Mr Carter added that although news about the cyclone would fade from the media it must be remembered that there were long-lasting effects on the people.
“Plantations were devastated and sea water destroyed them. Many farmers will not be able to grow for a long time, in many years in some cases. Many people will go hungry for a long time and families will miss out on their income.”


February 22, 2010  Vol 68 Issue 6