Mothers recall horror

Ditalei packs son, three, in a suitcase during super storm Yasa

SILIVA Ditalei packed her three-year-old son into a suitcase and hid him under their bed when super storm Yasa’s destructive force winds tore into Yaro Village on the island of Kia, located off the coast of Macuatta, on Thursday afternoon.

She said she opened the suitcase three times to check on him and prayed protection over him as the Category 5 cyclone battered the village.

Ms Ditalei said she fled with her two children to their neighbour’s house after the roof of their home was blown away by strong winds around 4pm.

As the winds continued to pick up strength, her neighbour’s roof also gave way to the winds around 8pm, forcing her and two other young mothers sheltering at the house to take desperate measures.

Karalaini Disika, 24, and her sixmonth-old daughter Joana Nadirua joined Makereta Penina and her two-month-old daughter Sereana Disoqo as they cowered underneath a bed seeking shelter from the fierce winds and pelting rain.

Ms Disika said around 4am Friday she began to experience excruciating pain from hypothermia after being exposed to the rain and cold conditions while sheltering her daughter from Yasa’s fury.

Her cousin, Ms Penina, said it was a “night of terror” and she prayed for the whole eight hours that TC Yasa battered Yaro and despite the rain, she kept her baby as warm as she possibly could.

She said the terrified screams of 11 children seeking refuge under a nearby table was something she would never forget.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, Yaro Village elder Savenaca Yabaki said all 30 homes in the village of Yaro were damaged by STC Yasa.

Mr Yabaki said villagers began feeling strong winds from 8am Thursday and it turned into destructive force from 3pm to 8am Friday.

Yaro Village is one of three villages on the island of Kia, one of the worst hit by super storm Yasa.