The International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS)

Comité International du Bouclier Bleu (CIBB)

Niue

Niue was shattered by the cyclone "Heta"

Cyclone "Heta" shatters Niueans

The tiny South Pacific island is trying to cope with the aftermath of a tropical cyclone Niueans described as the worst in memory, the mother of all cyclones.

"The village of Alofi South has virtually disappeared from the face of the earth," said Niue's high commissioner to New Zealand Hima Takelesi.

Sydney man Brett Tappin, part of the two air ambulance rescue teams, said southern Niue resembled a war zone.

Houses on the island's coastal side and up to 100 metres inland were wiped out, leaving just rubble. Locals say there are some parts of town that they simply can't recognise anymore.

Links:

arrow Pacific Regional Branch International Council on Archives

arrow Update by New Zealand Agency for Int. Development

arrow Red Cross responds to Cyclone Heta