Travellers on alert as twin cyclones threaten multiple South Pacific islands
Tourists are advised to check how flights and travel plans will be impacted.
Multiple South Pacific island nations are bracing themselves against twin cyclone threats as travel warnings are issued, with Australia and New Zealand also put on alert.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Vaianu developed off Fiji‘s west coast this week, bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds to the popular tourist islands.
The system quickly intensified into a category 3 system, with wind gusts reaching between 165 and 224km/hr.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Fiji Meteorological Services said flights may be delayed or cancelled, and essential services may be disrupted, with locals and travellers warned to take protective measures.
“If you’re travelling in affected areas, contact your airline, tour operator or accommodation provider to check how your travel plans may be impacted,” the weather service said.
“Know your accommodation’s evacuation plan. If a cyclone is approaching your area, find your nearest shelter and follow the advice of local authorities.”
Australia’s government travel advice site Smart Traveller issued an update for travellers on Tuesday, warning that flights may be delayed or cancelled and essential services may be disrupted.
“Know your accommodation’s evacuation plan. If a cyclone is approaching your area, find your nearest shelter and follow the advice of local authorities,” it said.
Vaianu is expected to start tracking south-southeast from Thursday before continuing southwards towards New Zealand on Friday and Saturday.
New Zealand’s MetService said Vaianu had the potential to bring severe weather to the country, with severe weather watches and warnings for the North Island likely to be put in place in the coming days.
In the neighbouring Solomon Islands, severe Tropical Cyclone Maila has also reached category 3 intensity just south of the nation’s Western Province.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Services Division said on Tuesday that gale force winds over the whole Western Province islands are expected, as well as “very rough seas and moderate to heavy swells with coastal flooding and widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms”.
“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,” it said.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is also in the firing line, with the country’s National Weather Service declaring a warning area for locations in Manus and New Ireland for gale force winds.
“A tropical low is developing north of the equator with strong westerly winds dominant over the northern part of PNG,” they said.
“It is advisable that people should avoid going out to sea and residents of villages along the coastlines of the warning areas are also warned to stay away rom the edges of the sea.”
Maila developed within the PNG area of responsibility, with the naming of the new system falling to their weather service, a relatively rare event for the nation.
The severe tropical cyclone is then expected to move towards the Queensland coastline later in the week, or early next week.
If Maila makes landfall this weekend, it would be the third tropical cyclone to hit Queensland this year.
Originally published on 7NEWS
