Cyclone Oli belts Penrhyn

Cyclone Oli, a category 2 cyclone, has passed out of Cook Islands but not before making its presence felt in Pukapuka, Manihiki and Penrhyn.
On Tuesday morning Penrhyn resident Tini Ford from the village of Omaka reported very strong winds and waves sweeping through some homes just after 10am Tuesday. The sea reached Omaka school although it was high tide.
At 11pm Monday it was reported winds were blowing up to 70kmph and three homes had parts of their roofs blown off. Two of the homes were unoccupied and the other housed an elderly woman who was moved out earlier on Monday morning. By Monday afternoon another three homes had parts of their roofs blown off.
Penrhyn’s MP, Minister Hon Wilkie Rasmussen advised the Herald on Wednesday morning he had been in regular contact with the island and had received updates on the situation there.
Rasmussen said his information is that winds are still very strong but there is no serious damage to property in Omoka Village. Some trees have been blown down and sea surge has caused some erosion to the seaside road as waves have passed over from the sea across land into the lagoon.
He reports some serious damage in Tetautua Village to coral slab walls on the lagoon and roofs blown away. Sea has surged into some beach front homes. While the lagoon is still rough there is no threat to life only to crops and fresh water.
Rasmussen said the Island Administration will be heading across to Tetautua to assess the damage as soon as conditions in the lagoon will permit. This should be later on Wednesday or Thursday. He will then get a better picture of what help is required.
He said the Penrhyn Red Cross had been on alert throughout.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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