Final Exam Part 2
At 2 a.m. yesterday morning, meteorologists at the Nadi Weather Centre detected a cyclone developing rapidly near Nauru and moving quickly south-west across the Pacific towards the Solomon Islands.
"It was a fast developing front that we could not have anticipated any faster." director James Jones said.
At 3 a.m., they contacted the Solomon Islands government, warning of the approach of Cyclone Victor.
Government officials began to warn the police and all shipping.
"We warned all the proper authorities." Jones said.
By 10 a.m., winds in Honiara were blowing at more than 140 kilometers per hour.
"The storm had sustained winds of 140 kph and was classified as a Level 4 Cyclone" Jones said.
At about midday, the centre of the cyclone passed directly over Honiara before tracking into the Coral Sea, where it blew itself out.
"It was pretty chaotic for a few hours there when the storm hit the community." chief Marianna Adams said.
In Honiara, more than 20 houses were destroyed and a number of other buildings sustained considerable structural damage. More than 100 people are now homeless. Six people were killed. Another 18 people have been treated in hospital for minor injuries.
"We are devastated that our son, Frank, was killed." Lisa Ramos said.
Mopping-up operations have started in Honiara. The emergency services are still awaiting news from outlying districts but believe that Honiara has been the worst affected.
"The church is open to anyone who has lost their home and need a place to stay." pastor Harold Young said.
Police say that of the six people who died, three men drowned when their car was blown off the road into a river, and two women and a man were killed by flying debris.
"We have heavy hearts over the six people who lost their lives today." Adams said.
"It was a fast developing front that we could not have anticipated any faster." director James Jones said.
At 3 a.m., they contacted the Solomon Islands government, warning of the approach of Cyclone Victor.
Government officials began to warn the police and all shipping.
"We warned all the proper authorities." Jones said.
By 10 a.m., winds in Honiara were blowing at more than 140 kilometers per hour.
"The storm had sustained winds of 140 kph and was classified as a Level 4 Cyclone" Jones said.
At about midday, the centre of the cyclone passed directly over Honiara before tracking into the Coral Sea, where it blew itself out.
"It was pretty chaotic for a few hours there when the storm hit the community." chief Marianna Adams said.
In Honiara, more than 20 houses were destroyed and a number of other buildings sustained considerable structural damage. More than 100 people are now homeless. Six people were killed. Another 18 people have been treated in hospital for minor injuries.
"We are devastated that our son, Frank, was killed." Lisa Ramos said.
Mopping-up operations have started in Honiara. The emergency services are still awaiting news from outlying districts but believe that Honiara has been the worst affected.
"The church is open to anyone who has lost their home and need a place to stay." pastor Harold Young said.
Police say that of the six people who died, three men drowned when their car was blown off the road into a river, and two women and a man were killed by flying debris.
"We have heavy hearts over the six people who lost their lives today." Adams said.
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