Villagers still in shock

ONE hundred and sixty villagers in Cogea, Bua are crammed into five houses that survived the onslaught of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa.

Cogea was believed to be the worst hit on Vanua Levu.

Of the 37 houses in the village, 18 were washed away by storm surges and the remainder damaged and uninhabitable.

Broken branches, tree trunks and debris that was swept into the village by STC Yasa remain gridlocked in the damaged homes and the village lawn has been turned into a river.

The foundations of some houses were uprooted as a result of the storm surges and strong winds.

Village headman Atekini Nairibuli said the villagers were still in a state of shock.

“I keep talking and keep trying to cheer them up but there is complete silence, they still can’t believe what happened and I know they are still affected,” he said.

Mr Nairibuli said the villagers prayed about 4am on Friday and thanked God for sparing their lives.

“When the prayers started, everyone sang together but towards the end of our prayer, we could hear people crying, just crying out to God with mixed feelings.

“There were some who thanked God for saving their lives and there were some who cried because they lost everything.”

I keep talking and keep trying to cheer them up but there is complete silence, they still can’t believe what happened ...

– Atekini Nairibuli