Tristan : Severe Gale Force Winds Hit Tristan
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 01.07.2008 (Article Archived on 15.07.2008)

Severe gale force winds have damaged buildings on Tristan da Cunha

Photo (c) Sarah Glass (Tristan Times) Damage to one of the Camping Huts at the patches where the winds were most severe

Photo (c) Sarah Glass (Tristan Times)

Severe Gale Force Winds Hit Tristan

Photo (c) Sarah Glass (Tristan Times) Damage to one of the Camping Huts at the patches where the winds were most severe
                                         

The M.V. Edinburgh arrived at Tristan on Friday morning 27^th June and not a moment to soon. The discharging of cargo started immediately, after the passengers and their luggage had been landed.  The following day on Saturday 28th June the weather turned sour, with gale force winds striking the island in the late afternoon.  Although there was minor damage done in the settlement to the islanders houses apart from water forcing its way in through windows etc, other areas were not so lucky. 

The most damage caused in the settlement area was to one of the Government buildings, the Mechanical and Gas workshop/bulk store, where most sheets of the asbestos roofing was blown off. 

One of the 20ft containers left behind by the Army harbour repair team that was positioned on the opposite side of the road leading from the Factory site to the Administration building, was blown across the road into the Hottentot fence. At the harbour, and in the factory area, boats were either blown over or off their trolleys. 

The hardest hit area was "Below the Hill" at the patches, where the roof was blown off two camping huts and several sheets of roofing off others.  Obviously this was the edge of the lee, at the time and where most severe winds would appear.

The weather has since moderated and the islanders are hoping that there will be a window in the weather to get ashore the remainder of the cargo, so the Edinburgh can return to Cape Town.

Sarah Glass