Cyclone Rene batters Tongatapu [1]
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 12:09. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
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.