WRACKED BY STORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 853, 23 December 1929, Page 11

WRACKED BY STORM

HEAVY PROPERTY DAMAGE AT LABASA HURRICANE IN ISLANDS On December 10 and 11 Labasa was visited by a hurricane of the “real old man” type. For many hours Labasa was battered and devastated. For over 14 hours, terrific winds raged, and it is agreed that never before has such a hurricane occurred. Both in the force of the wind and the duration of its violence, the 1929 visitation in Labasa was without precedent. It seemed impossible that anything made by man could withstand the force of the blasts, and very little did.

“The thing was just a terrifying nightmare from which one feels glad to have emerged alive, and no words could possibly exaggerate either the experience or the results,” wrote a wireless man stationed at Labasa. Morris, Hedstrom’s store was unroofed. The manager's house was demolished, as likewise the staff quarters and the house of Mr. Middleton. The staff of Morris, Hedstrom are homeless and have lost everything. Many homes suffered severe damage aud are untenable and are all damaged to some extent. The Indian hospital collopsed, and the mill was unroofed aud flooded with great loss and damage.

At Nasea the greatest damage was done. A residence collapsed and the owner and his wife, his son-in-law, five daughters and two visitors were rescued from beneath the building. Long before the hurricane had spent its force, the flood invaded all the houses near the river and the refugees, who had taken refuge in a new building, were again compelled to leave.

Over 30 Europeans and nearly. 100 Indians were sheltered that night and a most trying time was spent. The water rose to the floor of the house they were in, which is built up over three feet from the ground on the highest spot in Nasea, but it did not invade the house.

The loss is great and many people are homeless and penniless. Reports from outside districts are yet to come