Wednesday 22nd June
Two teams joined forces as about fifteen people worked together to clean out a hotel which was ankle-deep in mud, waste and debris. This was a challenging day, as the temperature climbed into the thirties and the light and ventilation inside the hotel was extremely limited. Inside, I found the chemical smell nauseating – it may have been washing detergent or fabric conditioner and it permeated every nook and cranny.
Team 10 underneath the impressive digger.
The teams worked diligently and by the end of the day we managed to clear the mud, sort debris and breakables, remove old carpet tiles and even sweep some of the remaining dust away. We were grateful for the cold drinks brought to us by the owner, and I was even allowed a seat in the nearby digger! This useful machine removed some of the cars which had been dramatically flung within their parking bays by the might of the tsunami.
