Cyclone damage at St John’s College “immense”

Friday, February 26th, 2016

The damage at St John’s College in Levuka is “immense, particularly with the girls dormitory and classrooms” says Elimi Rokoduru, Lomaiviti provincial administrator.

He said in an interview on Tuesday that they were trying to get the more than 400 students on the next available ship so they may be able to join their families.

Rokoduru said a lot of the damage that was also done to the Old Capital was caused by a tidal wave.

“Part of the sea wall in town has collapsed.”

Landmark buildings that had stood over a century and witnessed a number of changes over the years in Levuka have been destroyed.

Businessman and owner of Lomaiviti Studio in Levuka, Mahesh Vithal, said: “We are saddened we have now lost the buildings that made Levuka a National Heritage town and all we have now are memories of those buildings that have stood the test of time.

“It is sad seeing all this building collapse right before our eyes and witnessing how the waves forced its way in to town smashing, damaging and breaking down all our sea wall leaving nothing left but debris of what was once a piece of Levuka Town.”

The Morris Hedstrom Hardware, the Old Copra Shed, Lomaiviti Studio, Katudrau Trading and St Vincent De Paul were severely damaged.

Click here to view photographs of damage caused by cyclone Winston.

Source