Neu: 2002-01-02 Contents of this issue:
1. Neighbourly Assistance 2. Disaster Inspection ======================================================================== January 2nd, 2002 1. Neighbourly Assistance: New Zealand will provide food and emergency shelters to people in the northern Tonga island of Vava'u following the devastating Cyclone Waka.Hundreds of homes and crops on the island kingdom were destroyed. About 10 cruising yachts and launches were lost in the main harbour of Vava'u N Duty Minister Trevor Mallard said the Government could begin flying in supplies of food and tarpaulins for emergency shelter once a formal request from Tonga was received. The deputy director for Tonga's National Disaster Management Office, Maliu Pakai, estimated that 60 to 70 per cent of buildings on the island were destroyed or damaged. "All the food-bearing trees like coconuts and breadfruit have been destroyed," he said. No-one was killed or received serious injuries but but food supplies would start running out soon. Mr Pakai said it was likely the Tongan Government would formally ask New Zealand for aid after a meeting of the national disaster committee early today. 2. Disaster Inspection: A New Zealand air force Orion aircraft with disaster relief specislists on board is today assessing damage caused by a cyclone in the northern Tonga islands. New Zealand Government duty minister Trevor Mallard said an assessment of the battered islands was necessary before any further action could be taken by the Government. Cyclone Waka formed on Sunday over the French territory of Wallis and Futuna before heading south between Tonga and Niue. Gusting up to 250km/h in its centre, the cyclone hit northern Tonga islands on Monday, cutting communications for several hours. Reports of damage included uprooted trees, flattened buildings and crops and sunken boats from wind gusts of 135 knots and an average of 90 knots since the cyclone hit. Niue escaped any major damage as the cyclone sideswiped the raised coral atoll for several hours yesterday passing well to the south east. Today on Niue the seas have flattened and the weather is fine with a temperature of 31C. The cyclone has left the area and is in open ocean, MetService lead forecaster Liz McLaughlin said. It was heading in a southeast direction at about 25 knots and would not affect New Zealand. Ms McLaughlin said it was also weakening and would soon lose its tropical cyclone characteristics, developing instead into a deep low. (NZPA) __END__
