TERRIBLE CYCLONE.
ISLANDS COMPLETELY WRECKED VILLAGES SWEPT AWAY. HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST. SEVENTY PEARLING CUTTERS MISSING. ,(Per Press Association^ Auckland, lasf night. News by tho Ovaluu gives particulars of the terriblo cyclone which struck tho Archipelago on Jauuary 13, dovustatiug tile Islands of Amauuttaa, Eavahere, Marokau, ’i’akcune, and Earoia, also doing great damage in othor islands. The cyclone also struck tlie Marquose group, doing much damage, aud on the Inland of Uapo severe earthquakes were felt.
The islands of liavahero and Marokau were swept completely, not a house remaining.
Some 100 peoplo lost their lives on Marokau.
At Takume the whole village was swept away, In persons being killed. The village settlement on Raroia had all tho houses blown down and was swept by the sea, 15 people losing their lives. In Low Island one of tho finest villages on the Archipelago suffered terribly, every house being blown Uown by the gale, but fortunately only five lives were lost here.
The villago of Avanu was devastated, five persons being killed. The Island of Hikiwea, carrying a population of 1009, suffered most severely from the hurricane, having apparently felt the full force of the cyclone. The islet on which the village was established was swept, not a store or house remaining, and a few cocoanut palms only have resisted the fury of the storm.
The number lost or killed on this island is about 400. Grave fears are entertained as to the safety of several schooners in the group at the time, and up to February 7th no news had been received of them at Papeete. Over 70 pearling cutters were lost at Hikuera.
Warships have been sent from Papeete with provisions for the sufferers, and the French authorities are taking steps to relieve the distress.
In some of the islands the people saved themselves by climbing up cocoanut trees and remaining in them for six or eight hnurs.
No estimate is available as to the loss by the traders and inhabitants, but it must be very considerable; in fact they have lost practically everything, and are completely ruined.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 820, 19 February 1903, Page 2
Word Count
348TERRIBLE CYCLONE. Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 820, 19 February 1903, Page 2
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