Cyclone Harold hits Vanuatu after killing 27 in Solomons

[Meatpie]

A cyclone bringing winds of 135mph (215km/h) has arrived in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

Cyclone Harold is a category five storm - the most severe - and has already killed 27 people in the neighbouring Solomon Islands.

The victims were swept off a ferry that defied cyclone warnings.

Vanuatu, home to around 300,000 people, is already in a state of emergency because of the coronavirus - and is awaiting general election results.

The storm is particularly affecting Sanma province, home to the country's second biggest city, Luganville.

Although there have been no injuries reported, photos showed roofs blown off buildings and power lines brought down. Some people took shelter in caves.

"There is lots of damage in Sanma, they lost lots of buildings," Jacqueline de Gaillande, chief executive of Vanuatu Red Cross, told Reuters.

 

[deaddirty]

Pity someone can't shoot Harold in the eye - that worked at Hastings!