Vanuatu: Tropical Cyclone Gita to bring windy conditions Feb. 15

Event

Tropical Cyclone Gita is expected to bring violent winds to Vanuatu as it passes south of the island on Thursday, February 15. Gita was upgraded to a category five cyclone (the highest alert level on a five-tier system) on Wednesday. As of February 15, the system is moving away from Tonga in a west-south-westerly direction.

Flight disruptions (delays, cancelations) are possible in the coming hours and days.

Context

Cyclone Gita brought severe flooding and associated damages to Samoa and American Samoa before striking Tonga and Fiji February 13-14, where widespread damage (houses flattened, crops destroyed) was reported. Samoa declared a state of emergency and US President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration for American Samoa on February 11.

Cyclone season in the region typically lasts from November to April but storms can occur outside this period.

Advice

Individuals present in Vanuatu are advised to monitor local weather reports and follow all instructions as issued by local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders). Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.