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ACT AlertSouth Pacific - 1/2004Cyclone isolates Pacific Island of NiueGeneva,
7 January, 2004
World Council of Churches (WCC) Officer for the Pacific region based
in Suva, Fiji reports that Cyclone Heta slammed into the small Pacific
island of Niue yesterday, 6 January. Cyclone Heta had already hit Samoa and Tonga causing moderate damage,
but meteorologists believe that the damage on Niue could be devastating
as the island, a tiny coral atoll, would have had no protection against
the winds of up to 300 kilometres an hour. The cyclone has cut all communications to the island which is located
2,400 kilometres north-east of New Zealand. However, according to
the BBC, reports are coming in that the capital, Alofi, has been flattened
and there is widespread damage to crops and buildings. A state of
emergency has been declared on the island which has a population of
2,100. According to the BBC, New Zealand is planning to send an aid flight
to Niue as soon as possible. ACT members in the Pacific area have
been alerted and an RRF request may be forthcoming. Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie
Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
Thank you. |
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