7 Feb 2005

High seas batter northern coast of Rarotonga in Cook Islands as Cyclone Meena approaches

6:31 am on 7 February 2005

Waves of up to 10 metres are battering the northern coast of Raratonga as it begins to feel the brunt of Cyclone Meena.

Parts of the main township of Avarua have been flooded by seawater and sections of its main road are closed.

Storm force winds of up to 75 kilometres per hour are hitting the northern coast, with the cyclone about 80 kilometres north of the island.

The cyclone is packing winds of up to 280kph.

150 people have been evacuated to cyclone shelters.

The cyclone has already passed by Aitutaki in the north, but so far there are no reports of how Meena has affected the island.