Cyclone Harold tears through Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Harold struck the South Pacific island of Vanuatu for a second day on Tuesday, destroying houses and downing telecommunications. The cyclone is expected to continue moving towards Fiji, where it is hoped it will make landfall with less intensity.

The powerful cyclone first hit Sana province on Monday, on an island north of Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila. Winds were as high as 235 km/h (146 mph) and communications were knocked out overnight.

Vanuatu's second largest city, Luganville, bore the brunt of the storm, with the roof of the council building ripped off and trees and other structures felled, according to pictures posted on social media. Luganville has a population of around 16,000.

Coronavirus fears increase

The havoc wreaked by the storm may also spell disaster for Vanuatu's desire to remain one of the few nations in the world not yet to have a confirmed case ofCOVID-19. Social distancing measures were lifted to get people to shelters but international aid may be necessary to rehouse and feed those affected.

"Tropical Cyclone Harold is going to affect COVID-19 preparations and responses a lot," said International Red Cross Vanuatu Secretary-General Jacqueline de Gaillan and the Red Cross's Carl Gustav Lorentsen wrote on Twitter. "We have a very limited health care system so we really need to take care."

Vanuatuan authorities are yet to assess the full scale of the damage or report on casualties. Cyclone Harold is expected to reach Fiji around 06:00 local time on Wednesday.

Cyclone Harold has already killed at least 27 people in the nearby Solomon Islands.

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