Kubulau School Head Teacher Thankful
Like many in February 2016, the experience of Tropical Cyclone Winston was a frightening one.
Sisa Tamani, Assistant headteacher of Kubulau District School in Bua said he was glad to be alive after the deadly storm hammered the school, which was being used as an evacuation centre at the time. “It was scary and shocking experience. I remembered what happened like it was just yesterday. It was in the afternoon when Cyclone Winston struck us,” Mr Tamani said.
“Teachers and nearby villagers used the school as an evacuation centre. It was around 2pm when the wind really got strong. We were all cooped up in one of the classroom when its roof blew off.
“We then ran to the next classroom and not long after, the roof of that classroom also blew away. Luckily, the roof did not fall on us.” Mr Tamani said the experience was something he would never forget.
“We went to the third classroom and it was one the oldest classroom for the school. We were safe there. At around 6pm the wind died down, so we took the chance to find shelter at the Government quarters nearby,” he said.
“The teachers started carrying one student each and carried them to a safer destination. An hour later we were all at the Government quarters safe and sound.
He added: “I was glad that no one got hurt and I thank God for his protection.”
Mr Tamani said everything was now returning to normal. Speaking about the damage, he said: “The school assembly hall, two classroom roofs were blown away, the dining hall and the teacher’s quarters were badly damaged, we used tent as a classroom and assembly hall till the two classroom roof was repaired. “Thanks to the Government students are using the classroom that has been repaired. It is a big help for the school. We are looking forward to the completion of the new teacher’s quarters building, assembly hall and the dining hall.” In the Northern Division, 792 houses were destroyed, 2617 partially damaged.
In the Northern Division, 792 houses were destroyed, 2617 partially damaged totalling 3409 houses affected.