Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Islanders in the northern Cooks prepare for third cyclone in ten days

Posted at 07:43 on 08 February, 2010 UTC

The Cook Islands police say emergency centres are ready to be activated in light of cyclone Pat.

The cyclone is expected to bring gale force winds to the country’s northern islands, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Suwarrow.

Police inspector John Strickland says the cyclone is near Manihiki and moving southeast at ten knots.

“For the island of Manihiki they are expected to have low lying areas covered with seawater. But at the moment, nothing serious. They have in the northern Cook Islands, especially Manihiki, Rakahanga emergency centres; until such times that things come to the worst they’ll be activated by each island.”

Cook Islands police inspector, John Strickland.

Other islands in the Northern Cooks are set to experience strong winds, rain and thunderstorms.