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http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=139292

 

Cyclone Oli batters French Polynesia  

Saturday, February 06, 2010 

PAPEETE, AP - Cyclone Oli has buffeted French Polynesia, forcing the evacuation of 
hundreds of residents and tourists to churches, schools and temples. 

The archipelago that includes Tahiti was under red alert until the cyclone passes, and 
all roads were closed. Towering waves were buffeting buoys off the coast of Tahiti's 
capital, Papeete. French television showed a naval ship pitching in the storm. 

One person was seriously injured after falling from a roof in Bora Bora and hundreds 
on the Iles Sous-le-Vent and Iles-du-Vent arhipelagoes have been evacuated, Magali 
Charbonneau, senior adviser to the region's top French official, said on RFO radio. 
She said they were being housed in churches and schools. 

Charbonneau predicted waves up to 8 metres high, and urged families especially 
children to stay inside. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and communication and 
power lines were down. She said evacuees were being housed in churches, schools 
and temples. 

A statement from the French regional commissariat said that more than 650 tourists 
were given refuge in secure hotels, but provided no further information. The statement 
said a fisherman was rescued at sea. 

Winds overnight to Thursday averaged 150km/h, with gusts at 200km/h, and were 
expected to pick up speed, according to the statement.