The Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Weather Service (NWS) this morning issued out a tropical cyclone warning to people in the Milne Bay province as the category 3 tropical cyclone Maila crosses over the islands.

The NWS’s warning is current for the Milne Bay province especially the coastal and island communities of Woodlark, Sudest, Misima, Rossel islands, and Bougainville- the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

People are advised to stay away from the edge of the sea and seek higher ground until the cyclone threat eventually goes away.

“Tropical cyclone Maila will cause very heavy rain and flooding, storm surge, coastal inundation, gale force winds and storm force winds,” the NWS stated.

Looking at the current location of tropical cyclone Maila, it is about 180 kilometers Northeast of Rossel Island and 250 kilometers Northeast of Misima and 240 kilometers southeast of Woodlark Island.

The tropical cyclone has caused damages on ground already with pictures and videos uploaded to social platforms showing the devastation of infrastructures like high voltage transmission lines, bridges, and vegetation, food gardens and buildings like homes, businesses and government facilities.

The NWS will be providing further updates on the movement of tropical cyclone Maila as the day progresses.