TC Harold: No communication from Vanuatu Islands

RNZ reports that there has been no communication from the Vanuatu islands hardest hit by the powerful Tropical Cyclone Harold

Cyclone Harold made landfall on the Vanuatu island of Santo yesterday, with destructive winds as high as 235km/h.

The cyclone, a category five, passed right over Santo, and hundreds of people are sheltering in evacuation centres.

In Luganville, a town of 16-thousand people, roofs have been blown off houses, trees snapped, and its council building has been destroyed.

Overnight, Tropical Cyclone Harold has showed no sign of weakening as it moves across Vanuatu.

One telecommunications provider, Vodafone said there's a general network outage in Banks, Santo, Malekula and Pentecost.

Fiji issues cyclone alert for category 5 Harold

Fiji's Yasawa and Mamanuca group, Viti Levu, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Lomaiviti and Southern Lau group are now on cyclone alert.

Tropical Cyclone Harold is expected to cross into Fiji waters on Wednesday as a category 4 system.

Fiji's Meteorological Service has warned of hurricane force winds and heavy rainful which will lead to severe flooding.