Hapuna Beach

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Typhoon Melor: The Aftermath

Then, this typhoon Thursday, we had high winds with sunshine from mid-morning until early afternoon. By 1:30 the wind had diminished enough to permit another foray into the outside world. Of course I headed back down to the sea. After all, I did want to check out the possibilities of a late afternoon run along the coast road if the wind should calm just a tad more. Well, a run along the coast road won't be happening any time later today; perhaps with Japanese industry and efficiency in play, maybe Saturday I can have that particular run.

Even with four years living in the same Ashina location, I have never before seen damage of this magnitude after a storm. Usually only flung palm fronds and sand spew across the road and walkways at vulnerable points--the non-evaporating evidence of heavy surf splashing over sea walls--mark the history of a passing storm.



THE LATEST PHOTOS:

Here is the beach road, the one that runs parallel with the sea, my preferred running route. (And no wonder the police set up a barricade barring entrance onto it during the storm.)




That is sand covering the pavement of the road, by the way--remains of the surging sea swell.

Several fishing shacks lining the sea-side edge of the road collapsed and washed onto the road.



These next two photos I took from the small shrine on the bluff above the sea where I took photos earlier in the day. (See previous post for a comparison.)


You can see quite a few people (center left) engaged in clean-up where the fishing shacks collapsed.



What's left of fishing shack row:






Here is an expanse of sea wall, one of my favorite stretches on my running route because the sea is close and the views are stunning. The sea broke it today.




More aftermath:



These palms have learned the art of surviving!

2 comments:

Callie said...

I'm glad you're safe and well!

Jennell said...

Hmm...that is pretty impressive! Still nothing like Florida though!