Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) will begin reactive work, repairing damage from last week’s storms such as pothole repairs and debris clearance.

ICI says that on Friday their engineers headed to some of their recently cleared streams to see how they were holding up following the week of heavy rain and thankfully people residing around the streams experienced minimal to no flooding, as opposed to the major flooding experienced prior

In the weekend with much anticipated impacts from Cyclone Pita, residents felt relieved as the Meteorological Service issued a downgraded strength advisory although the main road around the seawall in Nikao was closed off to traffic.

On Saturday morning, the Cook Islands Police Service advised all motorists about the road closure, and later informed in the evening that it had reopened.

This was due to the turbulent weather with strong waves and ocean current impacting the road causing its slipperiness.

Vehicles were being diverted to the back road in Nikao while road blocks were stationed on both sides of the road to block motorists although some motorcyclists were still sighted ignoring the road blockage.

Meanwhile, the latest weather and cyclone bulletin as of yesterday advised that the cyclone has passed Rarotonga and this week is expected to be sunny with brief showers.

According to RNZ Pacific, the risk of cyclones in Pacific Islands close to the Coral Sea could increase as a La Niña watch remains in place.

The first cyclone of the cyclone season, Pita, passed near Niue over the weekend.

NIWA forecaster Chris Brandolino said the second half of the season from January is normally the most active.

 ICI/TM