Tonga: Cyclone Rene - Feb 2010

Tropical Cyclone Rene, a Category 4 cyclone, struck Tonga on 15 February 2010 with winds of more than 160 kilometres per hour, bringing heavy rain, sea swells and flooding and disrupting electrical and communications services on the islands of Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongutapu. (WHO, 16 Feb 2010) Food crops were severely affected and more than 127 houses were damaged by the cyclone. (Govt of Tonga, 17 Feb 2010)