As the tsunami triggered by the 8.3 magnitude earthquake roared across the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of thousands of people thousands of kilometres away fled to safety. In Fiji, the highest wave to reach our shores was about one foot but most citizens took no chances and moved to higher grounds. GERALDINE PANAPASA, UNAISI RATUBALAVU,
MERESEINI MARAU and SERAFINA SILAITOGA tell of their fears as our Pacific neighbours counted their losses.
LAISENIA Bale was among the hundreds of villagers who watched in disbelief as a roar came from the ocean and a white line on the horizon turned into a series of waves that struck the island.
Mr Bale, who was on his home island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group, said the tsunami that reached their beaches was a little over one foot high, with the waves continuing for about 30 minutes.
"Luckily, none of our fishermen were out at sea during that time," he said.
"There was no damage and no lives lost or casualties.
"Since our island is in the lagoon, most of the big waves will first hit the reef before reaching our shores."
He said the villagers could hear the ocean roar before the one-foot high waves crashed into the coastline after 7am.
On Oneata Island, lower down in Fiji's Lau group, Salote Vuetaki from Dakuiloa Village was part of a fishing group that had set out for a traditional fish drive at the reef.
She said the 17 villagers were on the water in three fibreglass boats when a phone call was received summoning them immediately back to shore because of the tsunami warning.
