Air Force to hunt for boat as storm lashes seas

UPDATE - The Air Force will begin searching today for a fishing boat in trouble in Cyclone Percy about 700km northwest of Samoa.

An Orion was due to leave Auckland at 3am and was expected to begin looking for the vessel and its seven crew just after dawn.

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre picked up a distress beacon from the American Samoan boat yesterday afternoon. It was about 15km from the eye of the tropical cyclone. Winds were up to 100km/h and the sea swelling to 10m.

Last night, the tiny islands of Nassau and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands were in the grip of Cyclone Percy. Roads, houses and crops were being battered, but no injuries had been reported.

Over the weekend, Percy struck the three atolls of Tokelau before moving towards the Cooks.

Rarotonga was last night unaffected by Percy, but people on Nassau and Pukapuka were hunkered down and waiting the storm out, said Cook Islands deputy police commissioner Maara Tetava.

"We're getting reports in," he said. "Both islands have suffered damage to housing, but the pleasing thing is no injuries to anyone. All our people are safe."

On Nassau, residents had gathered in the island's two churches.

The islands had only satellite telephone and ham radio access to the outside world after normal communications were struck down in the first three cyclones this month, Mr Tetava said.

Percy is the fourth cyclone to hit the Cooks in a fortnight, coming after Meena, Nancy and Olaf.

Pukapuka has a population of about 600 people and Nassau 40.

Mr Tetava said it was too early to say what sort of aid might be required.

Rarotonga was still in the path of Percy and was expected to be hit today.

After its weekend battering by Percy, Tokelau needed food, tarpaulins and medical supplies, New Zealand Aid Minister Marian Hobbs said yesterday.

The Government has approved up to $500,000 for relief supplies.

Ms Hobbs said damage was still being assessed but the island of Nukunonu was under water at one stage.

On Tokelau's Fakaofo atoll, a man was seriously injured when cut by flying debris, two people were rescued after being washed out to sea and seven houses were washed way.

Fakaofo does not have a doctor.

New Zealand's administrator for Tokelau, Neil Walter, has said a metre of seawater swirled over the land and there was serious damage to roads and power systems.

Boats were scattered around the land, as was debris.

Mr Walter, who is based in Wellington and was on the atoll by coincidence, is now carrying out a preliminary damage assessment.

Ms Hobbs said relief supplies were being sought in Samoa's capital, Apia, and would be shipped as soon as possible.

There are no airports on Tokelau.

A spokesman for New Zealand's international aid and development agency, NZAid, said the supplies would be sent as soon as possible - probably this weekend.

The regional tropical cylone centre in Fiji said this morning a gale warning remains in force for Pukapuka, Nassau and Suwarrow. A strong wind warning remains in force for the rest of the northern Cook Islands.

Cyclone Percy was located about 110 miles west-northwest of Suwarrow or about 120 miles south-southeast of Pukapuka at 281700 UTC (6am today NZT).

Maximum 10 minute average winds close to the centre were estimated at 90 knots with momentary gusts to 125 knots. Percy is moving south-southeast at about 5 knots and expected to turn south.

On its forecast track, the cyclone is expected to lie around 95 miles west of Suwarrow or 180 miles south-southeast of Pukapuka by 282100 UTC (10am today NZT) and about 100 miles west-southwest of Suwarrow or 180 miles south-southeast of Pukapuka by 010300 UTC (4pm today NZT).

Forecast for Suwarrow:
Damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 35 to 45 knots and momentary gusts of 50 to 65 knots. Frequent heavy rain with squally thunderstorms. High seas. Damaging heavy swells. Flooding including sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas expected.

Forecast for Pukapuka, Nassau and nearby smaller islands:
Damaging gale force winds with average speeds of 30 to 35 knots and momentary gusts of 40 knots easing gradually during today. Some showers with a few squally thunderstorms. Very rough seas. Damaging heavy swells. Sea flooding of low-lying coastal areas possible.

Forecast for the rest of the northern Cooks:
West to northwest winds 20 to 25 knots, gusting to 40 knots at times. further rain heavy at times with squally thunderstorms. Rough to very rough seas. Moderate to heavy northwest swells.

- NZPA