Tropical Cyclone Lola: Vanuatu residents warned to prepare, stock up food

By RNZ

Tropical Cyclone Lola has strengthened to category 4 with wind gusts of 180km/h, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department says.

The cyclone is expected to hit Vanuatu’s second-largest city, Luganville, at midday.

Evacuation centres have been set in Lugainville as authorities tell communities to stock up on food and water and prepare to evacuate their homes in case of flooding.

Philip Meto, principal provincial Liason Officer with Vanuatu Disaster Management Office, said people were aware of the cyclone risks and evacuation centres had been set up.

He said in previous cyclones, in flood-prone areas “more than 100 people are usually evacuated”.

Meto said their communications network was limited and urged people to access official updates on social media and continue listening to the radio.

Luganville Municipal Council was working with the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office and people were advised not to go to work.

The council’s evacuation team spokesperson, Colenette Tapi, said ward secretaries were “passing on information” and “making sure people are prepared.

“We are trying to get people prepared like stocking food and cutting down trees.”

- RNZ