Cyclone Rene batters Tongatapu

Cyclone Rene batters Tongatapu [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 12:09. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.

Boys with a bag of mangoes negotiate fallen power lines on Hala Taufa'ahau Rd. Power is out in the capital.

The MV Fangaafa, stuck on the reef at Sopu.

Photos by Pesi Fonua and Mary Lyn Fonua

TROPICAL Cyclone Rene swept into Tongatapu last night battering the capital and other areas of the island with stinging horizontal rain and gusts reaching top speeds of 85 knots at 7:00 pm yesterday, leaving one ship on the reef and damaging trees, gardens and property, and power lines.

The most intense gusts hit Nuku'alofa at around 6:30 pm and continued for about an hour and a half, while gales continued to cause damage throughout the night and early morning.

At dawn it was still gusting with driving rain but residents were out picking up the windfall of mangoes and other fruit and collecting firewood from the many fallen branches.

The MV Fangaafa run by Tofa Ramsay Shipping is stuck on the reef at Sopu. The vessel had been sheltering behind Pangaimotu Island, further down the coast on Sunday.

The Teufaiva Sports Stadium grandstand roof was badly damaged with sheets of iron ripped off and thrown into neighbouring properties by the force of the wind.

Most buildings and homes survived with little structural damage, but the wind wrecked gardens and crops. Fruit stalls and flimsy structures at the markets and on the sea front were destroyed.

Hala Vuna on Monday 15 February as Cyclone Rene approaches the capital.

The MV Fangaafa shelters behind Pangaimotu Island on Monday as the cyclone approaches.

After a night of battering by Cyclone Rene fences are down at the new Taumoepeau Building contsruction site on Hala Fatafehi.

Flimsy stalls at Talamahu Market in Nuku'alofa were wrecked by Cyclone Rene.

A falling power pole wrecked the veranda at Reef Cafe on the wharf.

The tail end of Cyclone Rene continues to batter the Nuku'alofa coastline early on Tuesday 16 February.

Heavy seas on the Nuku'alofa reefs, but there was no apparent sea flooding.

Children at Patangata watch stormy seas early on Tuesday 16 February.

At Patangata on the Nuku'alofa coastline, people check out the cyclone damage.

Fallen trees along Vuna Rd at Patangata.

Hala Vuna outside the Chinese Embassy, Tuesday morning.

A fallen tree on Hala Fatafehi in central Nuku'alofa.

Children play in fallen trees near the Royal Palace in central Nuku'alofa.

Plenty of mangoes for breakfast after Cyclone Rene.

The MV Fangaafa, stuck on the reef at Sopu, while another ship rides out the storm in the distance.

At Sopu children brace the morning winds.

Fallen Casuarina tree near Pangai Lahi, by the Royal Palace.

Fallen trees at Pangai si'i in central Nuku'alofa.

Sightseers traffic on Vuna Road this morning.

Flooding at St Andrews.

Teufaiva Stadium roof badly damaged.

Bent power pole and lines down on Hala Taufa'ahau at Fanga.

Natural events [2]