Loyalty Islands in the firing line

NEW CALEDONIA – Tropical Cyclone Hola intensified into a category three system as it yesterday spiralled south towards New Caledonia after earlier passing over Vanuatu.

In New Caledonia’s northern Loyalty Islands schools and businesses were ordered closed and people were being urged to prepare for heavy rain, strong winds up to 170kph and very rough seas.

A cyclone alert was in place for the rest of mainland New Caledonia where there had already been disruptive flooding.

Noumea was expected to experience up to 100kph winds and heavy rain as the cyclone passed to the east.

The territory’s government has declared a level two alert on the islands of Ouvéa, Lifou and Maré.

New Caledonian weather service head Gabrielle Castella said the Loyalty Islands were likely to feel the worst of it yesterday.

“According to our forecast we expect very bad weather conditions from Friday afternoon until Saturday with violent gusts and very heavy rain.

“Severe gusts and heavy rain are also expected in the south of New Caledonia so the level two of the cyclone alert system has been activated.”

Fishing tour operator on Lifou in the Loyalty Island group, Alex Rigourd, said local people were securing their boats.

Rigourd said some houses in the Loyalty Islands could be easily damaged as their corrugated iron roofs were held on with rocks. People would take shelter in the strongest houses of extended family members.

New Caledonia’s two domestic airlines cancelled all flights yesterday in anticipation of the cyclone passing the territory, but international flights to New Caledonia were running on schedule for the time being.- PNC sources

- death from cyclone reported in Vanuatu: Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office says there are reports one person in South Pentecost has died during Cyclone Hola and two others severely injured. The NDMO’s Peter Korisa said information remained sketchy and incomplete and he said his organisation had been trying hard to make contact with communities and area councils in the provinces.