Cyclone Reveals

Relics Of War

Many Solomon Islanders were made homeless when a violent cyclone struck the northern and western parts of Malaita and the eastern half of Guadal canal from November 12 to 16. Winds of up to 80 mph wrecked many leaf buildings and torrential rains flooded the rivers. This picture shows the Metapona River, 20 miles east of Honiara, where the Bailey bridge (foreground) was swept away by the heaviest rain in living memory. The rain, by flattening the grass and filling the ditches, also shows clearly the forgotten runway, taxistrips and hard-standings of wartime Koli Air strip.

Photo: Ted Marriott.