BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

SEVERAL communities in North Vella, Western Province, are facing severe impacts from Tropical Cyclone Maila, with widespread damage reported to infrastructure and food gardens.

Communities including Iriqila, Leona, Paramatta and JAC have been identified as among the worst affected, according to Member of the Provincial Government for Ward 10, Freedom Tozaka.

Mr Tozaka said the cyclone has brought continuous strong winds, rough seas and high swells since Monday this week, leaving residents stranded and unable to move freely.

“Our communities have been experiencing very strong winds and dangerous sea conditions, making it difficult for people to travel or access basic services,” he said.

Tozaka said the destruction of food gardens has heightened concerns over food security, calling for urgent assistance to support affected families.

“I call for immediate response plans to assist communities, especially in terms of food supply,” he said.

The Western Province Provincial Disaster Operations Committee is actively working to coordinate response efforts.

The committee met yesterday and is making steady progress in planning relief operations.

The Western Provincial Emergency Operations Centre is also operating around the clock, gathering information from affected communities across the province to guide response strategies.

However, deployment of response teams remains on hold due to ongoing bad weather conditions, which authorities say could pose serious risks to personnel.

Efforts are expected to roll out once conditions improve adding that the team continues to monitor the situation closely.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

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.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

Tropical cyclone Maila has intensified and is now category 4. And it has U-turned and is now moving towards the Western province.

Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) issued a Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 12 at 7.30pm today alerting that Western province is under cyclone warning.

On Monday, Maila was 263km southwest of Ranongga, Western Province, and moving south west – away from the country and towards PNG.

This evening, at 5pm, SIMS said Maila is 167km southwest of Rendova, is now slowly moving northeast.

SIMS is monitoring the situation and updating the nation. Listen out via radio and follow on facebook for weather updates from SIMS.

See below SIMS latest update

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING NUMBER TWELVE

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING NUMBER TWELVE ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE AT 7:30PM THIS EVENING, TUESDAY 07TH APRIL 2026.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING IS CURRENT FOR WESTERN PROVINCE.

SITUATION: AT 5:00PM THIS EVENING, SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE MAILA (CATEGORY FOUR) WITH A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 951 HECTOPASCALS WAS  LOCATED NEAR 9.9 DEGREES LATITUDE SOUTH AND 156.4 DEGREES LONGITUDE EAST (9,F ON TRACKING MAP). THIS IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 90 NAUTICAL MILES (167 KILOMETERS) SOUTHWEST OF RENDOVA ISLAND, WESTERN PROVINCE.

SEVERE CYCLONE MAILA IS SLOWLY MOVING NORTHEAST, SOUTH OF WESTERN PROVINCE IN THE SOLOMON SEA AND INTENSIFYING.

EXPECT GALE FORCE WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS (63-70 KILOMETERS PER HOUR) OVER WHOLE OF WESTERN PROVINCE WITH VERY ROUGH SEAS AND MODERATE TO HEAVY SWELLS (3.5–6.0 METRES) WITH COASTAL FLOODING AND WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.

ELSEWHERE (OTHER PROVINCES), EXPECT WINDS TO REACH 20 TO 25 KNOTS (37- 46 KILOMETERS PER HOUR) INCREASING TO 33 KNOTS (61 KILOMETERS PER HOUR) OVER CHOISEUL AND ISABEL PROVINCES WITH MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS AND MODERATE SWELLS (2.5-4.0 METERS) AND POTENTIAL COASTAL FLOODING.  EXPECT HEAVY RAIN AT TIMES AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE REMAINING PROVINCES.

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 TRAVELERS ARE URGED TO CONSIDER SAFETY ACTIONS AS SUCH HEAVY RAIN CAN REDUCE VISIBILITY.

MOTORISTS ARE ALSO ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRAVELLING ON 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.

PLEASE LISTEN TO SIBC AND ALL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER UPDATES.

THE NEXT TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT 1:30AM AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) thanks community leaders and the general public for maintaining peace during the high court ruling between the new coalition and the government on 4 April.

A statement from RSIPF yesterday said community leaders and the general public’s ongoing support and understanding in maintaining peace within Honiara and the country as a whole must be acknowledged.

RSIPF said the peaceful situation has enabled our leaders to perform their respective mandated responsibilities without fear or intimidation, especially during the recent court sittings.

The statement noted that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Operation Mr. Simpson Pogeava said the understanding and cooperation of community leaders and the general public is much appreciated and he requests their ongoing support.

DC Pogeava said the community’s commitment to respect and to the judicial process is so crucial to maintain peace that prevails within our capital.

He also said that as we navigate this uncertain situation, we will encounter a lot of challenges and he urges good citizens and the people of the Solomon Islands to remain focused on embracing unity and promoting a peaceful environment for everyone to enjoy.

DC Pogeava appeals to all good law-abiding citizens in Honiara and throughout the country to respect the outcome of the next court sitting, which is to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 8 April.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has issued a Strong Wind “What To Do” Information following Tropical Cyclone Warning released by the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services at 7.30am yesterday.

The advisory, which applies to all provincial waters across the Solomon Islands, warns that strong winds may cause rough seas and damage to buildings.

NEOC said the warning will remain in effect until an official cancellation is issued, urging the public to take safety precautions seriously.

Village leaders and families are advised to remain indoors as much as possible and ensure vulnerable members of their communities are informed.

People are encouraged to secure their homes, avoid going out to sea, and take shelter if caught outside.

The NEOC also warned of flying debris, falling tree branches, and dangerous waves that could sweep people off their feet even along the shoreline.

Motorists have been cautioned to take care, particularly when overtaking high-sided vehicles, and to remain inside their vehicles if struck by fallen power lines.

At sea, mariners are urged to avoid travel during the bad weather and to take extra precautions if journeys are necessary, including informing others of travel plans and carrying safety supplies.

The NEOC further advises the public to monitor updates through SIBC and other FM radio stations and to share information with people living with disabilities to ensure community-wide awareness.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The PRC-funded Auki Road Network Rehabilitation Project in Malaita province is progressing steadily, with major works now entering the final preparation phase ahead of asphalt sealing.

Contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is preparing to begin sealing works on the China Aid project, which will cover the stretch of road from Kilu’ufi Hospital to Kwaibala Bridge, including 16 feeder roads across Auki.

The upgraded road will feature a 50-millimetre-thick pavement, designed to serve Auki town for the next 10 to 20 years.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), the contractor is currently installing heavy-duty, concrete-lined drainage systems along the entire 9.2-kilometre road network.

These reinforced drains are essential to manage surface runoff and protect the road from erosion, forming a key part of preparatory works.

Despite facing delays due to unpredictable weather and utility relocations, construction continues to move ahead at pace.

A recent mid-term inspection conducted by an expert panel reviewed key components of the project from culverts to environmental compliance and awarded it an excellent rating for both quality and safety.

Collaboration remains central to the project’s progress, with CCECC working closely alongside MID’s civil engineering team, the Malaita Provincial Government, and local service providers including Solomon Power, Solomon Water, and Solomon Telekom.

The project is also delivering local benefits, with approximately 250 workers mostly Malaitans currently employed and gaining valuable technical skills alongside international experts.

Meanwhile, last week Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele officiated the handover of several newly completed infrastructure projects in Malaita Province.

These included the Kolofe 1 and 2 bridges along the North Road, as well as the Su’u and Bira bridges along the South Road, all constructed under the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project (SIRAP).

Prime Minister Manele also announced that an additional USD 41 million has been secured from the World Bank to support further infrastructure development in the province.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]