‘It’s just horrific. It’s like a war zone’

HOLIDAYMAKER Nicola Barton, 33, from Croydon in Surrey, was halfway through her fortnight’s holiday with husband Billy, daughter Charlotte and mother Jean when the water hit.

The hairdresser and her family had paid approximately €11,000 for the Christmas break at the Paradise Island Resort in the Maldives, but she now said it looked like a “war zone.”

“It is just horrific. There are wooden sunbeds floating round the island, chairs from the restaurants and glass smashed everywhere, bulbs from the lighting.

“It is like a war zone. I feel a bit bemused to be honest, just bemused. I can’t quite comprehend it - we came away for Christmas. I am a fairly positive person, but there are people here hysterical.”

The water flooded in through the holidaymakers’ beachfront accommodation.

“Basically, because we all have beach bungalows, the water came in through the front door. It was half way up the patio windows - it would have been around waist height as it washed over. We have all got life jackets in case it happens again.”

And she said “probably over half” of those on the island had been taken to another island, with those who were about to fly home today or tomorrow staying on Paradise Island, which had power on an emergency generator.

She praised people on the island, but said the government office “don’t know how to deal with it, because it hasn’t happened before.”