Cyclone Gabrielle Took Its Toll On 80 Seasonal Workers In Hastings
Cyclone Gabrielle
Photo: Supplied / Facebook
Footages show how Cyclone Gabrielle took its toll on 80 seasonal workers in Hastings and 250 islanders in Napier including Samoans affected badly with deadly conditions in this week's update.
Cyclone Gabrielle
Photo: Supplied / Facebook
Seasonal Workers were seen struggling as water up to waist level surrounded their working spaces both indoors and outdoors with neighbourhoods flooded with continuous pour.
Tau Stowers, a brother of one of the seasonal workers, stated the staff dealt with intense flooding and hazardous conditions destroying their food , belongings and also apartments they once called homes.
Cyclone Gabrielle
Photo: Supplied / Facebook
Tofilau Talalelei Taufale, one of the seasonal workers in Napier wrote in an emotional Social Media post " As our RSE sang in darkness last night , I felt the tears flow down my cheeks".
According to Tofilau ,250 RSE workers stayed at Kings House with the help of Mr Apple and the community of St Joseph's Māori Girls College.
"They had lost everything," he said.
Soaked and cold outside , sitting on rooftops , the crew were seen in footage stranded in frightening conditions.Families and loved ones have expressed their concerns and worries on Social Media for their family members working in Aotearoa NZ.
"Our pasefika community, this is our time to come together and support each other" one Twitter user wrote.
Cyclone Gabrielle
Photo: Supplied / Facebook
Help in Hastings was available when a Samoan pastor Rev.Sunita Nua within the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Hastings welcomed 80 seasonal workers and sheltered the crew with supplies and security.
The RSE Community have commended the help by the Good Samaritans and have posted constant updates on Social Media.
Cyclone Gabrielle was noted by the Aotearoa New Zealand Prime Minister, Chris Hapkins in his public announcement stating that Cyclone Gabrielle was one of the worst natural disasters in this century to have hit Aotearoa New Zealand.
According to reports announced by the Government of Aotearoa NZ , 10,500 people have been forced from their homes and evacuated to seek shelter and security. Hawks Bay , Phia's footage of devastation and destruction over the communities, and the dead body of a firefighter in Maruwai still in search of frontliners