Cyclone Kevin

PM assures support to disaster struck areas

On Sunday, PM Marape offered sympathies to the people of Vanuatu and said Papua New Guinea stands ready to assist its Melanesian brother regain its footing after natural disasters hit the island nation beginning Friday last week.

Tropical cyclone hits Vanuatu Capital

Hundreds of people remained in emergency evacuation centres in the capital Port Vila as Tropical Cyclone Kevin brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall.

The Fiji Meteorology Service said wind gusts reached up to 230 kilometres an hour in the early morning hours.

No casualties were immediately reported but a number of properties were flattened and many homes and businesses reported power outages.

The cyclone built to a category four on Saturday as it passed the capital and travelled south-east.