My Final Exam (part two)
Hurricane Victor
Yesterday morning around 2 a.m. cyclone Victor was detected by meteorologist at Nadi Wether Centre moving across the south-west Pacific, heading toward the Solomon Islands. More than 100 people are now homeless, with six people killed and 18 in hospitals.
"We are devastated that our son, Frank, was killed," Mother of one of the men killed, Lisa Ramos said. "He was returning home from a vacation to Australia when the storm hit."
Police say that out of all the six people who died, three men drowned when their car was blown off the road into a river, and two women and a man were killed by flying debris.
"We have heavy hearts over the six people who lost their lives today," Police Chief Marianna Adams said.
In Honiara, more than 20 houses were destroyed and a number of other buildings sustained considerable structural damage.
"It could have been worse," Adams said. "But the emergency shelters established three years ago after Hurricane Kilo gave our people a place to hide."
Around 3 a.m. the islands were finally contacted and warned about the cyclone, their government quickly put their emergency plans into operation.
"We warned all the proper authorities," Nadi Weather Center Director James Jones said. "It was a fast developing front that we could not have anticipated any faster."
They broadcast warnings on the radio alerted the police, who in turn sent officers to warn all of the local people.
"I want to commend all of our local emergency workers for their efforts," Adams said.
By 10 a.m., winds in Honiara were blowing at more than 140 kilometers per hour, and it was now a Level 4 Cyclone.
"It was pretty chaotic for a few hours there when the storm hit the community, Adams said."
At about midday, the centre of the cyclone passed directly over Honiara before tracking into the Coral Sea, where it blew itself out.
"The church is open to anyone who has lost their home and need a place to stay," Local pastor Harold Young said. "We will hold prayer services each night at 6 p.m. until we have everyone back in a stable home."
Mopping-up operations have started in Honiara. The emergency services are still awaiting news from outlying districts but believe that Honiara has been the worst affected.
Yesterday morning around 2 a.m. cyclone Victor was detected by meteorologist at Nadi Wether Centre moving across the south-west Pacific, heading toward the Solomon Islands. More than 100 people are now homeless, with six people killed and 18 in hospitals.
"We are devastated that our son, Frank, was killed," Mother of one of the men killed, Lisa Ramos said. "He was returning home from a vacation to Australia when the storm hit."
Police say that out of all the six people who died, three men drowned when their car was blown off the road into a river, and two women and a man were killed by flying debris.
"We have heavy hearts over the six people who lost their lives today," Police Chief Marianna Adams said.
In Honiara, more than 20 houses were destroyed and a number of other buildings sustained considerable structural damage.
"It could have been worse," Adams said. "But the emergency shelters established three years ago after Hurricane Kilo gave our people a place to hide."
Around 3 a.m. the islands were finally contacted and warned about the cyclone, their government quickly put their emergency plans into operation.
"We warned all the proper authorities," Nadi Weather Center Director James Jones said. "It was a fast developing front that we could not have anticipated any faster."
They broadcast warnings on the radio alerted the police, who in turn sent officers to warn all of the local people.
"I want to commend all of our local emergency workers for their efforts," Adams said.
By 10 a.m., winds in Honiara were blowing at more than 140 kilometers per hour, and it was now a Level 4 Cyclone.
"It was pretty chaotic for a few hours there when the storm hit the community, Adams said."
At about midday, the centre of the cyclone passed directly over Honiara before tracking into the Coral Sea, where it blew itself out.
"The church is open to anyone who has lost their home and need a place to stay," Local pastor Harold Young said. "We will hold prayer services each night at 6 p.m. until we have everyone back in a stable home."
Mopping-up operations have started in Honiara. The emergency services are still awaiting news from outlying districts but believe that Honiara has been the worst affected.
Word Count: 386
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