Natural disasters

Rarotonga and some of the Cook Islands Pa Enua (outer islands) reported record waves and flooding that damaged homes businesses, during a week record visitor numbers had been expected.

Muri Beach Club resort manager Liana Scott said the waves were as high as during a cyclone.

King tides had been forecast to coincide with the storm, but even then the height of the waves and the distance the swell came ashore was a surprise.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) launched its 'Find my Evacuation Centre' messaging system on Tuesday, saying disasters such as cyclones demanded a quick response of accurate information from the authorities to the public.

Director Vasiti Soko said the Short Message Service or SMS would be used to deliver communication to Fijians during disasters.

Soko said with the cyclone season on the horizon, the service would help people identify their nearest evacuation centre and also locate the nearest disaster management officials.

“Human and economic losses from disasters cannot continue at current levels if we are going to progress with the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Deputy Secretary-General said at the opening on Wednesday evening.

Held every two years since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to discuss disaster reduction, the 2017 Global Platform – the fifth such event to date – is bringing together some 6,000 Heads of State, policy makers, disaster risk managers, civil society and other participants.

The village was badly affected by a tsunami in 2009 and Cyclone Evan in late 2012.

One stage of the project suggested the pre-school and the women's committee fale needed to be relocated further inland.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, NIWA, was involved in the project.

NIWA principal scientist, Geoffroy Lamarche, believes the success of the project has been the engagement of the people of Sa'anapu.

Dr Lamarche said the next stage is to secure more funding.