Coast destroyed on French Polynesia's Tubuai by Oli
Updated
As Cyclone Pat threatens to follow in the footsteps of Cyclone Oli, one French Polynesian community is struggling to cope with the aftermath.
The island of Tubuai in the Austral Island group, south of Tahiti, was the worst affected by last weeks storm. Luckily none of the 2,000-plus inhabitants were seriously injured, but about 200 homes were completely destroyed by heavy winds and high waves.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Alain Glyphe, manager of Tubuai Centre rental shop
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GLYPHE: First of all the winds were really very strong, 200 kilometres and more. But the most dangerous was the waves. The waves they arrived to the beach about five metres high and nearly two metres of water running inside the land for 200 or 300 metres. So all was devastated by the force of the waves. All the houses all around the island are completely destroyed and the people they have nothing more. But there are no injuries because all the population was asked to go inside the island. We have no problems with the people. We are two days after, we have electricity again on main part, we have fresh water and food, so that first problem is good for everyone. And yesterday the Nui Tahiti 1 came with maybe 100 people with water, with food, with electricity materials, with building materials and they are beginning to work from this morning.
COUTTS: The buildings that were destroyed are they just on one side of the island or all the way round the island?
GLYPHE: No they are different sides. You have coté Taahueia, Taaheia was the strongest wave. That one was very bad. After you have Mahu, a little less. But all the island had problems with winds and waves.
COUTTS: Now you said that the building materials have arrived. Is the French military still there to help with the reconstruction program?
GLYPHE: Yes. We have first the French, the French government, after we have the Polynesian government and after the military. Altogether they are here to help with the reconstruction.
COUTTS: And are you getting help from other agencies like the Red Cross?
GLYPHE: Not yet because we have no injured people.
COUTTS: And so your water and electricity has been restored?
GLYPHE: Yes, we have fresh and good water so no trouble for that, because it's a high island so we had water. But the problem [was] we had no electricity, and they didn't want to give the water while the electiricity was not on because we need pumps to refill the tanks, and we had to first be sure in all the houses the taps were closed; there were no damaged pipes, etc. So we needed two days to check all the water lines.
COUTTS: And are people whose houses and homes were destroyed, are they living in temporary accommodation?
GLYPHE: Yes they are living with friends - I have some in my house. They are living in temples, in schools, there's no trouble for that, they have all a place to sleep and to live. All the children are now safe, no trouble.
