Category 3 TC leaves trail of destruction in Western and Choiseul provinces
BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
TROPICAL Cyclone Maila has wreaked havoc across Western and Choiseul provinces, leaving a trail of destruction as strong winds, heavy rain and rising sea levels battered coastal communities over the past two days.
TC Maila as of 5pm yesterday was 263km south-west of Ranongga. Maila is slowly moving southeast and intensifying, an update at 7.30pm yesterday by the Solomon Islands Met Service said.
Reports reaching Island Sun confirm that many properties have been damaged in Choiseul and West, with some communities experiencing unusually high tides that swept inland and destroyed homes and food gardens.
In an interview yesterday, Sydney Lekevolomo from Sasamuga in Choiseul Province said the village endured a terrifying night as the cyclone intensified in the early hours.
“Sasamuga was battered by strong winds, heavy rain and incoming sea from around 4:00am until morning.
“It was the worst night we ever experienced. The wind, rain and the rising sea combined contributed to the situation.
“Some houses along the coastline were flattened, and fruit trees were also brought down,” he said.
Lekevolomo said many residents fled to higher ground during the night and remain at evacuation sites as they wait for conditions to improve.
He said the weather showed signs of easing, with communities hopeful for calmer conditions.
A similar situation was reported in Iriqila village in Western Province, where a local school teacher, Clarence Kula, described the impact as severe.
“Our community went through a very frightening experience last night.
“The wind speed was different—it was fierce. The heavy rain combined with the incoming sea made the situation worse for those living along the coastline,” he said.
Kula confirmed that key community infrastructure, including the village market, several petrol depots and kitchens, were destroyed during the storm.
He said the bad weather intensified again later in the afternoon, keeping residents on edge while conditions briefly improved yesterday morning,
Kula said no casualties have been reported so far although communities are bracing for further impacts.
Island Sun understands that Cyclone Maila continues to pose a threat to many parts of Western and Choiseul provinces, with several communities already suffering significant losses over the past two days.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses have been sharing photos and videos on social media, showing the extent of the damage as the cyclone continues to move through the region.
Authorities are yet to release a full assessment of the damage as affected communities remain on alert.
Photo credit: Supplied
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