Widow Tells Of Waves So Powerful It Knocked Her Home From Its Stilts
“At around 11pm the winds were so powerful and the storm surge sweeping through the village knocked down my one bedroom home.
Saturday 02 January 2021 | 14:08
Nakawaga Village headman Henry Koliniwai outside the village hall that was damaged by storm surges. Photo: Laisa Lui
A widow on Mali Island was left bewildered when storm surges from Tropical Cyclone Yasa knocked down her one-bedroom home.
It was just three weeks ago that Loame Silinobogi, 58, of Nakawaga Village lost her husband to kidney failure.
Loame Silinobogi. Photo: Laisa Lui
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Worst of its kind
For 73-year-old Turaga ni Yavusa Ratu Savenaca Koliniwai, TC Yasa he said, was worst he’d experienced.
Ratu Savenaca said while working in Lautoka when he witnessed Hurricane Bebe struck but rated TC Yasa more powerful than the former.
“I thank God that no life was taken. Life is more important than material things,” he said.
Even Varanisese Ranuku, 77, can attest to Ratu Savenaca’s account.
“Many cyclones that have passed we used to hide in caves or under the house, but since I have aged, I recalled the words of my late father is to pray and God can hear us and will save us,” she said.
“That was what I did, I sat in my room and continuously prayed by 10pm when the winds were gaining momentum and sending waves flooding into the village. My nephew, a retired Police officer came and carried me to his house as it was located on higher ground.
“All my life, there has never been a storm surge on the island. This is the first of its kind.”
As the village recovers from the ordeal, the village’s New Year began with a church service and welcoming the Minister for Youth and Sports Parveen Bala who brought farming assistance for their youth club.
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