Heavy rain causes extensive flooding in Nuku'alofa [1]
Monday, March 4, 2013 - 23:36. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Flooded bus stop outside the Tonga Water Board on Hala Taufa'ahau, Nuku'alofa. 4 March 2013
Heavy rainfall that lashed Nuku'alofa throughout the day caused widespread flooding in the capital Nuku'alofa, forcing schools and some businesses to close.
Traffic in and out of the capital slowed as motorists and pedestrians tried to negotiate flooded roads and overflowing drains.
The peak of Tonga's 2013 wet season has tested the efficiency of a multi-million drainage system built recently for the Nuku'alofa CBD and the surrounding areas.
Ironically, the roadworks and new "drains" are being blamed by the public for the worsening of flooding in some areas of Nuku'alofa, where in very many places the new roads construction has blocked the natural flow of water to the sea. At the same time the overflowing drains appear to be channeling flood-waters into properties including homes, and businesses where septic tanks remain underwater. The town's main Hala Taufa'ahau- ByPass Road roundabout flooding was worse than ever seen before.
Hala Taufa'ahau- ByPass Road roundabout. 4 March 2013.
A spokesperson for the Meteorological Division of the Ministry of Transport said that the heavy drop of rain today was not unusual for this time of the year. She said that the average for March is about 202 millimeters. The heaviest hourly rainfall on record was 76mm per hour on March 1982.
More rain is forecasted for Nuku'alofa and the rest of Tongatapu before the end of the wet season at the beginning of April.