Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 8 guests online > Flying Kiwis Find Drifting Fishing Boat > A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion has located a fishing > vessel missing in an area of the Pacific Ocean ravaged by > Cyclone Percy, finding the crew safe and well. > The Orion flew to the area after a distress beacon alert was > received by Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ). > The missing American Samoan vessel, Breanna Lynn, was 700km > northwest of Samoa and the seven crew are all reported safe > and well. > The vessel is in bad state and is drifting without power or > working engine.The cyclone blew all its windows in and the > crew had to pump water out of the bilges. > RCCNZ mission co-ordinator Neville Blakemore said the weather > conditions would have been atrocious with a wind speed of up > to 100km/h and a sea swell of up to 10m > ' 'Ironically, 11 days ago the missing fishing boat helped > other vessels during the extensive search and rescue effort > required when cyclones Olaf and Nancy hit," Mr Blakemore said. > Meanwhile widespread damage has been reported on the northern > Cook Islands of Pukapuka and Nassau after Cyclone Percy > slammed into the area. > On Pukapuka, with a population of 600, only 10 houses > weathered the storm intact, the Australian-Pacific Centre for > Emergency and Disaster Information (APCEDI) said. > One person previously unaccounted for had now been located. > On the neighbouring island of Nassau "all the homes are > reportedly severely damaged or destroyed", although the 70 > residents were safe after being evacuated to two main churches > which serve as cyclone shelters. > Meanwhile, Percy continued to weaken as it turned south, > taking the storm away from the populated islands of the > Northern Cooks. > Meanwhile, in Rarotonga despite the recent cyclones tourist > resorts are open for business, with about 95% of hotel rooms > ready and waiting for tourists. > "Although the cyclones caused substantial damage to tourist > resorts in Rarotonga, in fact only 73 out of approximately > 1400 rooms are still out of commission," said New Zealand High > Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Kurt Meyer. > "There is still ample accommodation for visitors. A > reassessment of damage by resort operators has resulted in > some impressive and rapid action plans to clean up quickly, > minimise disruption to guests and avoid closure when > possible." > The Fiji Meteorological Service maintained a tropical cyclone > alert for the southern Cooks including a strong wind warning > for Palmerston, while authorities in Niue and American Samoa > were urged to remain on alert should Percy make a > southwesterly turn. > [date.gif] Tuesday, 01 March 2005 > 31457 Visitors
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