More than 500 students from Selwyn College have been evacuated for their safety from flood and tropical cyclone threats.
The school took the measure on the advice of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to take extra precaution measures.
“People are adviced to take extra precautionary measures and start thinking about possible actions that you should take before, during and after,” NDMO has advised.
Ten 3 tonne vehicles from the school, police, prison service, Kohimarama, Society of Saint Francis and parents were used to transport the students to Honiara.
Education Secretary James Memua said, they had to take contingency measures in time for the safety of the students.
He said, those were evacuated are students from forms 1-4.
“They will remain in town until further advice from NDMO,” he said.
Mr Memua said, only forms 5,6 and 7 still remain at the school because the number is small and is manageable but should the deteriorate they will be evacuated.
He said, most of the students are now staying with their parents while for those who do not have parents in town, they will be accommodated at All Saint Hall and St Barnabas Cathedral.
School Chaplain Bobby Chuchuni said, the situation at the school since yesterday night was that the water has begun overflowing to the school compound causing the septic tanks to overflow as well.
“Last night (Wednesday) we have to evacuate the students to the classroom overnight before transporting them to Honiara in the morning,” he said.
He said, the school is prone to flood during heavy rain and the school have to evacuate the students for safety.
He said they are not only fearful of the flood and cyclone but also they feared the overflow of septic tanks which can cause health risks to the students.
By CHARLES KADAMANA
