Tropical cyclone Maila intensifies and turns around heading northeast, warning for Western Province
BY LORETTA B MANELE
Tropical Cyclone Maila is now Category 4 and intensifying.
TC Maila has also made a U-turn from its south-west path and now heading northeast.
The tropical cyclone warning is active for the Western province.
Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 12 issued at 7.30pm yesterday said the cyclone was now 167km southwest of Rendova island.
SIMS said at 5pm yesterday, tropical cyclone Maila with a central pressure of 951 hectopascals was located near 9.9 degrees latitude south and 156.4 degrees longitude east.
SIMS said this location is approximately 90 nautical miles (167km) southwest of Rendova Island, Western Province.
On Monday, April 6 Maila was 263km southwest of Ranongga, Western Province, and moving southwest – away from the country and towards PNG.
SIMS said Maila was south of Western province in the Solomon Sea and slowly moving northeast, and intensifying.
Gale force winds of 34 to 47 knots (63-70km per hour) over whole of Western Province with very rough seas and moderate to heavy swells of 3.5 to 6 metres with coastal flooding and widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms is also expected.
SIMS said for other provinces, winds are expected to reach 20 to 25 knots (37-46km per hour) increasing to 33 knots (61km per hour) over Choiseul and Isabel provinces with moderate to rough seas and moderate swells (2.5-4.0 metres) and potential coastal flooding.
Heavy rain at times and thunderstorms over the remaining provinces is also expected.
SIMS said such bad weather may lead to possible landslide and flooding over communities living near hill slopes, close to large rivers, streams and low-lying areas.
Sea travellers are urged to consider safety actions as such heavy rain can reduce visibility.
Meanwhile, motorists are also advised to be extremely cautious when travelling on the road.
“Do not attempt to cross rivers and large streams of unknown depth.
“People should take precautionary measures as bad weather associated with the severe tropical cyclone poses threats to lives and properties.
“Please share this information to people with disabilities”, SIMS advised.
SIMS urges the public to listen to SIBC and all media outlets for further updates.
In the past days and yesterday people in Choiseul and Western Provinces have shared with Island Sun videos and pictures displaying the damages tropical cyclone Maila has caused in their coastal communities.
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