Out of the eight confirmed deaths so far reported from Koro Island, at least one involved a 10-month-old infant.
While on Koro today, senior Journalist Cheerieann Wilson spoke to the distraught parents who reluctantly re-lived the moments that has now changed their lives forever.
It all happened so fast..even now Alifereti Samu and Mereani Biukula still cant believe they have lost their 10-month-old baby boy.
“That day we were told to leave our house and move to the next one. We thought we would only be affected by strong winds. When we were in that house, waves began to rush into the village. When the winds began to rise, we then ran for safety,” Samu explained.
Pinned down by gusting 300 kilometers an hour winds, their fate was sealed when phenomenal seas slammed into their village coastline…destroying everything in its path.
“When we got to the other side, the water level was up to my neck. The house began to fall and waves began to pound on us, we drowned in the waves, our son was above water and he then drowned but we managed to save him.”
Baby Apisai Vulaono was born 10 months ago in Lautoka – he and his mum Mereani just recently returned to their father in Sinuvaca.
“When we got to the other side, the water level was up to my neck. The house began to fall and waves began to pound on us, we drowned in the waves, our son was above water and he then drowned but we managed to save him.”
Apisai’s father Alifereti said he held onto to his son hoping to reach higher ground….that was not to be.
“He is our firstborn, we still haven’t found him. We believe he has been taken out to sea. We are at peace with the thought that he has found eternal life.”
Not only did he lose his son – Alifereti later found his wife washed up on othe other side of the village – fortunately, she was still alive.
For now, all Alifereti and Mereani have is each other as they try and pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives.
CW _ FON