Percy ready to wreak more havoc in Cooks

Cyclone Percy, generating 290km/h winds, is on track to pound the islands of Palmerston and Rarotonga in the southern Cook Islands after leaving a trail of destroyed houses, roofs and crops further north.

Percy was last night 300km northwest of Palmerston, the Fiji Meteorological Service said, and was rated as a category four cyclone - the second most destructive rating.

In the northern Cook Islands areas of Pukapuka and Nassau, home to 670 people, just 10 buildings were left undamaged after the cyclone struck.

But Pukapuka islanders were yesterday clearing their airstrip to allow relief planes to land, said Maara Tetava, Cook Islands deputy police commissioner.

He said: "The airport should be operational - we've got an aerial photograph of it and a report from Pukapuka saying they've cleaned it up."

As the airstrip could only take planes with eight seats or fewer, relief supplies flown to the region by Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Hercules still had to be delivered to the island by ship, meaning a 36-hour trip from Penhryn.

With conditions in the northern Cooks calming down, the focus for the southern islands was on preparation.

" Palmerston is experiencing 20 knot winds and rough seas," Mr Tetava said.

"In Rarotonga we're getting prepared as well."

Government departments were closing down and Percy was expected to make its presence felt later today.

"The boards should be up on the windows tomorrow morning."

Many tourists were on Rarotonga and all were being kept informed by their hotels. Palmerston, population about 50, does not have any cyclone-proof buildings, the Australian Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information said.

Residents would shelter in the interior of the island, away from the surging sea.

Cyclone Percy comes just weeks after tropical cyclones Meena, Nancy and Olaf hit the region.

An RNZAF Orion yesterday flew over Nassau surveying the damage.

The crew observed significant damage to most of the structures on the island and estimated that most, if not all, of the thatched buildings were destroyed, the Air Force reported.

The crew also estimated that 90 per cent of the modern structures on the island had been damaged.

The Orion is expected to land back at Whenuapai this evening.

- NZPA