Athletes still in
American SamoaThe airport remains closed due
to damage from Cyclone Heta
Hawaii high school football players and several coaches are stranded in American Samoa after officials closed Pago Pago International Airport after Cyclone Heta damaged some of the airport's buildings and runways Sunday, according to Don Walker, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The roof of the airport's traffic control tower was blown off, the rotating beacon was damaged and debris was blown onto the runway, said Walker. The airport is expected to reopen tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian and Aloha airlines have canceled flights to and from American Samoa.
Heta, with winds gusting close to 200 mph, battered the U.S. territory and neighboring South Pacific nation of Samoa on Sunday. The brunt of the storm was felt in Samoa, where winds gusted to more than 100 mph and coastal villages were pounded by large waves that uprooted trees and cast rocks and debris onto roads, police said.
There were no reports of injuries.
Football players and their coaches are staying at the Pago Airport Inn, waiting for the airport to reopen. Football players -- 24 from Hawaii and two from mainland -- visited the island to take part in a cultural visit and the Samoa Bowl on New Year's Day.
"Everybody is safe," team manager Iva Tiave said in a telephone interview from American Samoa, adding that they have a supply of water and food.
Football players were calling their families yesterday in Hawaii to let them know that they are safe.
Gus Hannemann, liaison and consultant to the American Samoan Senate, said he has worked with Island Maritime to accept items from residents until tomorrow so they can ship any necessities to their relatives in American Samoa. A ship is expected to reach the island on Jan. 16.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.