Torch signals help villagers to safety, says postmaster

LAUTOKA

In pitch darkness, with winds howling and storm surge rising, some villagers on Matuku Island used torches to signal one another to safety.

That’s how Temesia Lesi, a postmaster at the Makadru Postal Agency, managed to get his parents and those he could help when Tropical Cyclone Harold pounded Makadru Village on Wednesday afternoon.

His home is located on the hilltop and was spared by the winds and rain.

“Between 1pm to 3pm we started to experience strong winds in the village,”

Mr Lesi said

“By 6pm we could only see people who stayed near the sea going around the village looking for help using torches, so I thought to go and help them.

“I saw buildings slowly damaged from the strong winds, I saw the church blocks were falling, I just thought to go and help my father when I saw another home being blown towards his home.

“At around 7pm I told my wife to stay home and that I was going to help my parents and my sister’s family move.

“She cried to me saying she didn’t want me to go, she was scared because of the winds were strong. “When I reached there I told my father we have to think now, we just try to save our lives, leave the house there.

“When I reached there I could just

hear ‘vinaka, vinaka’ (thank you, thank you) from my parents. They were frightened.”

He said his only concern was to get his family and other villagers to safety.

“I never slept I was just worried about those living near the sea. I managed to bring them quickly to take shelter at my uncle’s home.

“We are lucky that no one died. Our only signal to each other during the cyclone was using our torch.”

Yesterday, the villagers began coming out assessing what was left of their village and also started cleaning up, he said.Edited by Ranoba Baoa