High seas surged over the shore, washing in around Tetautua School on the eastern rim of Penrhyn Island, restricting safe access for children to their classrooms.

Yesterday morning, the school students were moved to a new location – upstairs in the ‘Te Papa o Savaiki Tere’ Cyclone Shelter, to continue their classroom activities.

Puna Vano, Penrhyn’s executive officer, who is currently on Rarotonga, said no one was hurt on Tetautua, which has a population of about 40 to 50 people, and there had been no damage to any properties on the island.

“The sea did not reach up into the floor level of Tetautua school, however, maybe another two inches and it would have.

“The power for the school was completely cut out, most probably due to the sea getting into the underground cables, at this time we are not sure,” said Vano.  

Vano said on Sunday night there was wind and big waves driving into Tetautua, coming from the lagoon side, from the Omoka side (western side).

Penrhyn’s huge lagoon occupies an area larger than the land of all 15 Cook Islands put together.

It has two villages, Tetautua and Omoka on opposite ends of the atoll.

Vano had spoken to the Mayor of Penrhyn who is on Omoka, the main village of Penrhyn, which lies on the western side of the lagoon, and has a population of about 180.

“Omoka was not affected by the high seas or winds,” he said.

On the island of Manihiki, school closed yesterday due to the strong winds which hit before 8am.

Mayor of Manihiki, Ngamata Napara said Tukao School in Manihiki closed about 11am yesterday.  

Napara said the acting principal, Anthony Kaina, had explained that parents had refused to send their kids to school, keeping them home, because they were concerned for their safety.

She said everyone was safe in Manihiki and that there had been no damage reported as of yesterday afternoon.

“The sun started shining strong around 3pm, now it is so hot,” she said.

Napara said the western side of Tauhunu was rough and lots of kikau had fallen, but there was no damage.

She noted that the over the weekend, including Sunday, in heed of the weather warnings, the people of Manihiki, were preparing more provisions.

Mia Teaurima, director of Pa Enua Services said he had had a zoom meeting with the Pa Enua Mayors/Island Council representatives yesterday morning (except for Pukapuka).

As of yesterday afternoon, although Palmerston Island had experienced “large sea swells”, they were good, said Teaurima.

He added that Rakahanga experienced high swells last week, and after the weekend, they were fine as well.

“All the islands have activated their DRM (Disaster Response Management) Response Units,” said Teaurima.