Kaya Selby
RNZ Pacific journalist
Aitutaki’s primary port has
been partially destroyed as Tropical Cyclone Wati sweeps
through the Southern Cook Islands.
Mayor Nick Henry
said the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway, which has
seen more than $7 million in investment for strengtheniing
and upgrades, was found underwater in the last few
hours.
“A lot of the work that we’ve done there in the
last couple of years, we’ll have to see how much of that is
still in tact,” Henry told RNZ Pacific.
“I think we’ll
have to re-dredge, we’ll probably find half the causeway has
gone back into the basin again.”
According
to the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, the harbour
is “Aitutaki’s vital lifeline to the supply of food, fuel
and other necessities that are delivered by
sea”.
Henry said that the funding allocated for the
project at the time did not cover the costs of steel sheet
filing, which could have lessened the likelihood that it
would be destroyed by a cyclone.
“We’ve already asked
for some assistance from Rarotonga … most of us are
already ready to get back and start tidying up the
place.
“But it is important to make sure that we
document the damage that’s been done before we tidy
it.”
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The storm has now passed Aitutaki on track
towards other Pa Enua (outer islands), causing winds to turn
to a bitter southerly.
The Cook Islands Meterological
Office said this morning that the island would likely
experience heavy and swells, and that coastal inundation was
a high probability. It had forecast storm force winds of 54
to 76 knots (100 to 141 km/h).
Alastair said he
watched waves smash onto the reef on the north-western coast
that reached “two stories high”, as debris swept the streets
and beaches.
“It was stronger about an hour ago, now
it’s certainly built up again,” he said.
“The waves
are crashing into the sea and there are bits of rubbish
everywhere.”
Henry said there had been minor damage
this morning, including to boats and some properties. He
said damage is minimal outside of the marina, and as of
2.30pm local time, there had been no reported
injuries.
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