A few bones, a sandal and two artificial flowers were the remains of what villagers of Marou in Naviti, Yasawa, were able to salvage from a 36-year-old grave yesterday after parts of it were washed away by the recent massive coastal inundation and heavy rain.
Village headman Tuwawa Ratu said the elders decided it was the honourable thing to do, to save the remains of the late Maleli Nasaunivotua.
“The water had sipped into the grave from below and most of that portion of the grave is gone, so we’ve dismantled the top part and collected the remains of our uncle who was the first to be buried there back in 1987,” Mr Ratu said.
“It’s scary how the waters keep washing away portions of the village. And we’re saddened as well that it has now reached a stage where the remains of our loved ones are being affected too.
“This is the first grave we’ve worked on and we will work on the other two next week and bury the remains inland, at least away from the foreshore.”
Mr Ratu said the situation worsened after last month’s heavy downpour.
He said the thought of losing the graveyard haunted the villagers over the past month, although families have been given some closure now that the elders have decided to remove the remains and bury them inland.
Mr Ratu said a number of families who also depended on their farms have since been impacted and the villagers have had to share food with them when the need arises.
“We are doing the best we can. And to be able to salvage these remains is somewhat a sad situation, but we are glad that they’ve been given a proper resting place.”
