Tropical Cyclone Oli passes through French Polynesia

(Dive Travel Business News - February 5, 2010) -- Tropical Cyclone Oli, a Cat 4 hurricane, had completely passed through the Society Islands including Tahiti and Moorea by the afternoon of  Feb 4 EST. Thus far there have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries.

The heaviest rains and strongest winds missed all of the major islands as the storm's center passed them. Bora Bora took the hardest impact of the storm and some 650 tourists had to be moved from "motu" resorts on tiny offshore islands into hotels on Bora Bora. Hotels on Tahiti and Moorea seem to have come through the storm undamaged, but several buildings have been heavily damaged on the island of Tahiti. Full damage reports, especially from Bora Bora, have yet to be produced and the airport, at press time, remains closed. Thus far two Air Tahiti Nui flights from Los Angeles to Tahiti have been cancelled.

According to the latest NASA reports from its satellite tracking devices, Oli has moved southeast of the island of Tahiti. French Polynesia's office of the High Commissioner has now upgraded the alert to the red level for the southernmost Austral Islands of French Polynesia including Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Rapa and Maria, none of which are major tourism islands. The storm's winds have reached as high as 130 mph and caused waves as high as 22 feet in the open ocean. For more information, visit Tahiti Tourisme.