31 Jan 2017

Housing main worry after Tahiti flooding

1:42 pm on 31 January 2017

French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch says after this month's floods a priority remains to find shelter for those who lost their homes.

Assessing the damage after severe storms caused flooding across Tahiti.

Assessing the damage after severe storms caused flooding across Tahiti. Photo: Supplied/ Présidence de la Polynésie française

Unusually heavy rain in Tahiti and Moorea caused massive flooding and an estimated 900 homes were damaged or destroyed.

Schools have reopened after some of them were closed for more than a week to allow for a clean-up.

In the town of Pirae alone, about 200 people have sought help to remove debris and mud.

Bridges need repairs and some roads have to be rebuilt.

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