Vela picks up the pieces

MEMORIES of how monster cyclone Yasa ravaged Bua with destructive momentary gusts will be difficult to erase from Serupepeli Vela’s mind.

Not only did the cyclone wreak havoc on his village of Galoa in Bua, it also left him homeless.

Today, the only remnants of what used to be home are two posts and a mountain of rubbish.

And as he considers the future, he cannot help feeling miserable and desperate.

“When you unexpectedly lose something you’ve worked tirelessly for, you will feel unsettled,” the 63-year-old said.

“But you must pick up the pieces and move on. I’ve accepted my loss and more importantly, the need to start all over again.”

Giving a breakdown of the tragic events of December 17, he said super storm Yasa was the strongest natural disaster of its kind to befall Galoa.

“I’ve lived on Galoa Island since I was a kid but I’ve never seen anything like Yasa” he said.

“It was stronger and definitely more destructive than hurricane Bebe and Winston.”

Mr Vela was sheltering at the village church when STC Yasa flattened his house and destroyed all his personal belongings.

At the height of the cyclone, he shared with the villagers his experience with hurricane Bebe, which before cyclone Winston, was considered Fiji’s most destructive storm.

“People were scared so I had to console them and co-ordinate movements inside the church.”

He said women, children and the elderly were locked in the little prayer room when the church roof gave way.

He and two youths sought refuge at the pulpit for hours before strong winds died down.

“The glass windows and doors of the church first shattered then the cross broke. But when the entire roof collapsed I knew there was little chance of my house staying upright.”

Mr Vela said moving forward people needed to work together to cushion the effects of the cyclone.

His biggest worry was having a consistent supply of food and clean water to drink.

He looks forward to receiving assistance from the Government in the coming days and weeks to help sustain his family.

Moreover, he anticipates the day his family will again have a roof over their heads.

Until then, he can only pray and hope for the best.

Picture: JOVESA NAISUA Above: Serupepeli Vela in between two posts, the only things left of his home after it was destroyed by STC Yasa on Galoa Island.

Picture: JOVESA NAISUA Right: Ulaiasi Koroi Gavidi (middle) with the two men who helped keep him safe at the height of STC Yasa that ravaged Galoa Island last week.