The next morning as I board the plane, Marc is waiting at the top of the stairs to greet me decked out in full pilot regalia. Thanks Patti. Though wood is a preferred material in constructing earthquake-proof buildings, it is perhaps the worst choice in a tsunami situation since it is easily uprooted and can cause further damage to other buildings. Its about as helpful as dropping an ice cube into a pot of boiling water but at least its a start. The tsunami also reached United States, Chile. Once we do, we buy a round of Hinano beers from the stand in the terminal and sit outside on the dock to celebrate. 1.5 How often do tsunamis happen? My stay in Tahiti is truly just a stopover, Bora Bora is the main event. There are still bands with strong winds passing over us, but the worst is over. We have 15 minutes to pack and get our bags down to the hotel dock if we want a chance at that flight. Its the hotel manager. There is no one from Air Tahiti behind the desk yet but as we wait the line quickly swells. The hotel front desk manager is handing out towels and sheets for the mattresses at the door. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-21870410', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');InterContinental Le Moana) had very good evacuation protocol. How bad could it be? and our Its just so hard to get any reliable information once youre on the island. Should I be trying to get out now, I ask, or do they expect this cyclone to miss us?. If you can not find shelter then use a coral friendly sun block and a rush guard to avoid sun burn. Note: At the time of my stay, this property was the Hilton Bora Bora Nui, it has since changed names to the Conrad Bora Bora. No I was here. Finally! The flight isnt full and I even scored an entire row of five seats to myselfheaven! Bora Bora (French: Bora-Bora; Tahitian: Pora Pora) is an island group in the Leeward Islands.The Leeward Islands comprise the western part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, which is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean.Bora Bora has a total land area of 30.55 km 2 (12 sq mi). Thanks again! Things are looking up but Im still a little concerned about my Air France flight to LAX tomorrow morning. I had a couple on Bora Bora the 29 September. Playing via Spotify Playing via YouTube. But we all make the best of it (again). And NO, YOU CAN'T OUTRUN A TSUNAMI. As far as cyclone shelters go, this one seems like a winner. So in love, in fact, that I confidently proclaimed it the most beautiful place Ive ever seen., Read More: Blue Lagoon Paradise in Moorea Island, French Polynesia. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Novotel shares a beautiful beach with the more expensive Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Resort property next door. New York's unique geography can help shield the area from most big waves. I hope to go back someday under better circumstances. Bring light and natural fabrics like cotton or linen. They emailed me on our Face Book page with pictures showing them sun bathing at the aorport dock waiting for their (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Temperatures dont really change throughout the year. We cannot wait to get there!!!! There are primarily two seasons in Bora Bora : the dry season and the wet season. The island is fine and there are no tidal waves or tsunamis as we are protected by our barrier reef! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Though I agree you should redeem your Starwood points for that. Certainly not horrible but definitely bare bones. Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. You couldve been in that bungalows that supposedly drifted overwater. Dinner is served as flies continue to buzz around the room. 30 minutes later a bellman in a golf cart pulls up outside to deliver me to 5-star luxury on higher ground. The sun will feel torturous, and your photos wont even be that nice since the light is too harsh. One of the 118 islands of French Polynesia, surrounded by thousands of miles of Pacific Ocean, it's a favorite honeymoon spot. Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington Seeing how tsunamis form would be helpful too. Is the french polynesia at risk at the moment? Totally understandable (safety first! It starts in December and lasts till March. The race takes place in November, and sees over 100 competitors race on traditional canoes a distance of 129 km which links Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, and finish in Bora Bora. Next, I raid the mini bar of the two Hinano Tahitian beers and finally sit down to my computer to e-mail my family and let them know Im OK. Every year over the same time period, humpback whales come to French Polynesia from Antarctica. What a hysterical coincidence! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Since the airport is on a motu, Air Tahiti provides a convenient free shuttle boat to the main town of Viatape. I will be in the french polynesia from March 1st to March 12th. 15 years ago Save Ia orana, thank you for your concern. During the rainy season, youll experience the occasional heavy rainshower and sometimes the sky will be gray for most of the day. I catch a cab back to the Hotel Tiare hoping they will still have a room for me. My Air France flight isnt until tomorrow morning but its not looking good for me either. The Trip Advisor reviews were mixed but it seemed to be the best budget choice in the area. Tidal wave. After all, it still hasnt even rained much. Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. When we realize how many boats are pulling up to try to get on this flight, we again put on our sprinting shoes and literally run to the check-in line. The last major hurricane in Bora Bora occurred in 2010. When I arrive, there are only about 10 other people in the room already making up their mattresses. The floor is covered wall to wall with bare mattresses. Is the french polynesia at risk at the moment? The next time we crack the door to look out, the huge palm is on the ground exactly where we were just standing. Cheapest Tahiti transportation ever. During the hurricane, thousands of people were evacuated and winds of up to 160mph were recorded. Answer 1 of 6: Hi all, My husband was worried that Bora Bora was affected by the tsunami the other day. The most severe natural disasters worldwide. In a total of 13 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1837 a total of 2 people died in the whole French Polynesia (which is the size of Europe). For a 3rd time that day, I am again informed that if the situation becomes serious, the hotel will keep us informed. Additionally, one person was injured. 3 minute read January 15, 2022 8:59 PM UTC Last Updated ago . Third, the holiday times and how it affects a vacation in Bora Bora and finally, cultural events. how about future tsunami generated from the after shock? Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Prince William Sound, Ak) with a magnitude of 9.2. I hunker down and make the best of the situation. Earthquakes in Japan (Honshu Island) with a magnitude of 9.1. I think it is a very interesting story to learn from and am glad that you posted. How often do tsunamis occur in Bora Bora? Breeding females come to deliver their calves in the warm waters and the other adults come to find a mate while being sheltered from their natural off shore predators. Don't ignore them or underestimate the speed of the wave. Praying for good weather from here on out for all of you. Its summit is Mount Otemanu located in the center of the atoll; another summit, Mount Pahia, on the main island, is 661 m (2,169 ft) high. More later. It's just not possible. While we wait, we strike up conversations with other passengers and begin an unscientific poll about everyones evacuation experience. As the number of days that have rain increase over December, January, February and March, you will want topack a light raincoat and comfortable shoes that are ok to get wet, like flip flops. The last major cyclone to pass through Bora Bora was Cyclone Oli which occurred in early February 2010. Its seasons are opposite to Europe and North America. All guests from resorts were evacuated to the main island mountains however in the end, no huge tidal wave came. She further advises that the hotel will be delivering food and water to the bungalows for as long as the lockdown lasts. It was 5:00am by this time17 hours of misery in paradise. The sun reaches its highest point at noon. Tsunami waves of 83 cm (2.7 feet) were recorded by gauges in the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa and two-foot waves were seen at Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Theres just something about surviving a tropical cyclone on a tiny dot of sand in the South Pacific that gives you pause. For example, Bora Bora is one of the many islands with an airport on an outer motu or small atoll surrounding the main island. Ok, fine. Marc was on a layover in Tahiti and decided to hop on over to Bora Bora for a few days of R&Rbig mistake! Forced to abandon my solitude, it looks like Ill be waiting this thing out with the rest of the hotels guests. tsunami has already been and gone down there. But that would take hours so most of us elect to go it alone and make the walk. A tsunami can arrive within minutes of a tremor or earthquake. On Friday, the volcano sent ash, steam and gas up to 20 km (12 miles) into the air, Tonga Geological Services said in a Facebook post. Hi Kaba, thanks for reading and for your comments! I was worried about the rescent earth quake in chilli and the tsunami that it generated. For the first few hours of captivity, Karine allows us to escape the stuffiness of the gym by standing just outside the door to the spa for some fresh air. Hooray!! A celebration of music, dance, song and craft with traditional sports competitions, it is an unbeatable experience with a vivid and exciting atmosphere. For more advice on what to bring, check out my Bora Bora packing list which includes a section on what to bring during the rainy season. Information on the island is limited, but thanks to internet access (and a little help from my Dad back home) Ive been keeping an eye on the storm myself. And thanks to everyone for your concern. A tsunami caused by the eruption of the volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai hit the Tonga archipelago on Saturday. Unfortunately, in addition to the weather, the sea turtle experience turns out to be another bummer. Whichever month you visit, you can expect temperatures around 80F to 83F (27C to 28C). Where to stay in Papeete For my stay in Papeete, I have humble needs - cheap, clean, and functional. The super active earthquake zones are not near as close to French Polynesia as they are to Samoaso it is highly unlikely that a large magnitude quake would occur close enough to Bora Bora to offer no evacuation time. Needless to say, its a less than glamorous start to my 8 nights in Tahiti. In 2011 the tragic 8.9 Tohoky earthquake hit Japan, sending a tsunami warning across the Pacific. Bora Bora. Its also good to know that all hotels and resorts have evacuation plans in place and a tsunami warning system just in case. From https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Tsunami-Pourquoi-il-n-y-a-pas-eu-d-alerte-au-fenua_a206490.html. A diver, for instance, will hardly survive a tsunami because he will be caught by violent spinning currents. Hurricanes are extremely rare in Bora Bora but they can happen. Since 1837, there have been 13 tidal waves that have been classified as tsunamis in the whole of French Polynesia, causing just 2 deaths. The first waves hit Gambier Archipelago at 10:50 a.m EST and Tahiti at 12:50 p.m. EST but Tahiti's seismological center said the waves were only 36 centimeters high. Anyway - the evac's all went pretty well - those that needed them, and in many ways it was a non- event locally. Hopefully this will turn out like the one a few months agomuch ado about nothing. Thanks! Aitutaki vs Bora Bora: Which Should You Visit. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The tsunami caused damages in 13 further countries. You have 30 minutes to pack. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The further away from the epicenter the better you will be. And then around noon, the power goes out. On the plus side, my overwater bungalow at the Meridien is completely wonderful and has stunning views of Bora Boras famous Mt. Didn't get to do my souviner shopping at Papeete's Municial Market but did get nice sunburn catching last rays on dock at BoraBora airport while waiting for much delayed flight. Poehere~ Keep us informed please. Bora Bora Tourism . I just couldnt make myself sit down and start writing about my ill-fated week in Bora Bora. 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