Aitutaki’s primary port has been partially destroyed as Tropical Cyclone Wati sweeps through the Southern Cook Islands.
Mayor Nick Henry said the new Arutanga Harbour and Marina causeway, which has seen more than $7 million in investment for strengtheniing and upgrades, was found underwater in the last few hours.
“A lot of the work that we’ve done there in the last couple of years, we’ll have to see how much of that is still in tact,” Henry told RNZ Pacific.
“I think we’ll have to re-dredge, we’ll probably find half the causeway has gone back into the basin again.”
Henry said that the funding allocated for the project at the time did not cover the costs of steel sheet filing, which could have lessened the likelihood that it would be destroyed by a cyclone.
“We’ve already asked for some assistance from Rarotonga … most of us are already ready to get back and start tidying up the place.
“But it is important to make sure that we document the damage that’s been done before we tidy it.”
The storm has now passed Aitutaki on track towards other Pa Enua (outer islands), causing winds to turn to a bitter southerly.
The Cook Islands Meterological Office said this morning that the island would likely experience heavy and swells, and that coastal inundation was a high probability. It had forecast storm force winds of 54 to 76 knots (100 to 141 km/h).
Alastair said he watched waves smash onto the reef on the north-western coast that reached “two stories high”, as debris swept the streets and beaches.
“It was stronger about an hour ago, now it’s certainly built up again,” he said.
“The waves are crashing into the sea and there are bits of rubbish everywhere.”
Henry said there had been minor damage this morning, including to boats and some properties. He said damage is minimal outside of the marina, and as of 2.30pm local time, there had been no reported injuries.
