After 190 MPH Hurricane, Pacific Island May GiveUp Sovereignty, Evacuate

[hatrack]

"The world's smallest self-governing country may give up its independence in the wake of a devastating cyclone last week which made a tenth of its people homeless. Politicians on the Pacific island of Niue say the resulting exodus could make its current status unviable.

At present 2,100 people live on the island, 4,000 miles north-east of New Zealand, but only half are native Niueans, and that may fall to 500 in the coming months.

"People have already started leaving," the former finance minister, Terry Coe, told the Auckland Sunday Star-Times. "The morale of people is really quite low." The acting premier, Toke Talagi, said the devastation caused by last Monday's storm would push many islanders to New Zealand, where all Niueans have rights of citizenship and 20,000 already live.

EDIT

Cyclone Heta is described as the worst storm in living memory on Niue. One person was killed in a collapsing building and the capital Alofi was flattened by 190mph winds. A storm surge and waves overwhelmed the 60ft (18-metre) cliffs which ring the island. On top of that, asbestos released from old houses destroyed by the cyclone threatens a public health crisis.

EDIT