25 Oct 2023

Cyclone Lola causes significant damage in Vanuatu

From Midday Report, 12:10 pm on 25 October 2023

Cyclone Lola has caused significant damage in parts of Vanuatu that haven't even been directly hit by the storm.

The Category 3 storm reached the Northern Islands in Vanuatu when it was a Category 5 and 4 cyclone, with gusts reaching 320 kilometres per hour.

The first images of the damage have come in from Torba province in the north.

There large trees have been toppled over, homes have lost corrugated iron roofs, while other homes are covered in vegetation.

The cyclone is now on track to directly hit to Malekula Island with gusts reaching about 200 kilometres per hour.

UNICEF Vanuatu field office chief Eric Durpaire spoke to Ben Strang.