Fearful of big waves

BETIO – The Kiribati Public Health Department says the damage to one of only two hospitals on South Tarawa is so severe, it will take at least a fortnight to repair.

It says Betio Hospital was left in a state of disarray after disastrous waves flooded the hospital on February 20.

The extensive damage meant patients had to be evacuated, and all medical services for the hospital suspended, with patients moved to a sports complex for treatment.

Michael Foon, with the Kiribati national disaster management office, says the waves destroyed the hospital’s maternity ward, toilet block and part of the sea-wall built to protect it.

“I think the option really is to look at more permanent solutions like putting wave breakers around the area but this is more like a long term plan to just solve the problem.

“Our maternity ward recently built by Australia did sustain a lot of damage as well, the doors and the air conditioners and some of the equipment inside were all washed by the sea water when it comes in.

“I know at the moment that they are trying to build a wall to protect the maternity ward but I think with the kind of waves we have we will see more of this, this year and probably more in future.

“I think we have really limited options, the option really for the future is to look at the latest engineering solutions to this problem.

“I think I should mention also that the particular sea wall close to the health centre is one of the highest on the island and being impacted like that you know it makes it hard for us to think of alternative future options.

“With predictions that we have with waves reaching more than 2.9 metres is becoming more frequent. Last year we have only a few but this year we are forecasting nine and probably we will see more in the future.

“It has happened before but not to this extent where the hospital is completely flooded and the surrounding area, resulting in power cut. This is the first time that we’ve seen this sort of extensive flooding it caused maybe about 200 metres inshore.”

He agrees that the big waves coming ashore are quite scary for all of those people who were involved.

“It is, and it’s impacting people because they depend on water wells that are now salty. You start seeing breadfruit trees with brown leaves, dropping their leaves and fruit.

“It’s very difficult to deal with these kinds of issues. We are trying to mobilise people to clean up the roads and we are working very closely with the public works to determine the cost and carry out repairs before the next king tide. It’s only a few weeks away.”

The Public Health Department says New Zealand is assisting with the ongoing repairs, and a request has been sent to the local High Commission to speed up work.