French Polynesia declares state of natural disaster for flooded capital
The government of French Polynesia has declared a state of natural disaster for the capital Pape’ete and other towns and villages located on the main island of Tahiti, as well as neighbouring Moorea island.
O/Flash
Wed, 10 Mar 2010
PAPE’ETE, French Polynesia ----- The government of French Polynesia has declared a state of natural disaster for the capital Pape’ete and other towns and villages located on the main island of Tahiti, as well as neighbouring Moorea island.
Flash floods at the weekend wreaked havoc and seriously disrupted road traffic.
The floods, triggered by torrential rains caused the international airport of Tahiti-Faa’a and the main highway linking it to Pape’ete to be temporarily closed.
Dozens of houses were also flooded or seriously damaged by landslides.
The natural disaster proclamation comes less than one month after several islands of French Polynesia were badly affected by tropical cyclone Oli.
Following damage caused by Oli, the French government and its Minister for Overseas territories Marie-Luce Penchard have earmarked emergency relief and rehabilitation funs to the tune of some 10 million Euros US$(13.6 million).
Meanwhile, a chemical tanker that ran aground on the uninhabited French Pacific territory of ClippertonIsland has been successfully towed off.
The Maltese-owned Sichem Osprey was carrying soy sauce and animal oil, as well as 10,000 tonnes of toxic xylene - a solvent for the print, rubber and leather industries - when it grounded on the island last month.
According to the French high commission in French Polynesia, it was able to be towed back out to sea once most of the cargo was unloaded. The boat is now headed for the nearest port in
