At least 90 Kiwis and thousands of locals in Vanuatu are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Lola’s onslaught with 320km/h winds forecast to hit the country. 

It will be the most intense tropical cyclone in recorded history to form ahead of the official start of the Southern Hemisphere season (November 1 to April 30), MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald. 

Speaking to the Herald from Port Havana, New Zealander Jeremy Dick said he has been shuttering windows and buildings, tying down loose objects and dragging boats onto the shore. He said people had been given plenty of warning of the coming storm. 

“I’ve been at work [yesterday] morning and most people are doing the same thing - going around and preparing your properties and your shutters. 

“At the moment, everyone is very nervous about the northern islands. You’ve got half-hourly broadcasts on the radio, a tracking map telling you exactly where it’s going and the speed.” 

Dick said local authorities appeared more prepared for Lola than previous cyclones this year. 

Another group of Kiwis who are part of the Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) agency in Vanuatu said on social media they were relying on a satellite phone for communications and have been in contact with the New Zealand High Commission. 

“We are red alert and she is a Cat 5,” the post said. “Our house is the safe house for the [Espiritu] Santo [island] VSA volunteers (except one whose husband is the Kiwi cop on Santo) so there are six of us spending the night together. 

An elderly man is moved to shelter on the island of Pentecost as locals prepare for category 5 Tropical Cyclone Lola in Vanuatu. Photo / VN News 

“We have lots of food, good company and wine and we will be conserving battery and data until it’s all over.” 

Although the worst of the storm is expected to miss New Zealand, we may still feel the leftover effects later in the week. 

Cyclone Lola is expected to make landfall over Vanuatu, specifically the provinces of Torba, Sanma, Penama and Malampa, within the next 24 hours. 

Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Lola hitting the east of Pentacost Island in northern Vanuatu. Photo / Vanuatu News 

At Lola’s centre, the winds are estimated to reach approximately 320km/h. The strongest winds during Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this year gusted at around 130km/h, which stripped entire forests. 

Lola’s winds were yesterday sustained at 210km/h and gusting 260km/h or more. This is a minimum air pressure of 940 hPa. 

“The storm is a major ‘worst-case scenario’ for Vanuatu, not only due to the cyclone being Category 5 but it is slow moving, perhaps only tracking 8km/h tonight which is human walking speed,” weather forecasting agency WeatherWatch NZ reported. 

“This slow movement increases the risks of damage.” 

This is the fourth tropical cyclone to hit Vanuatu this year, with Irene hitting in mid-January and twin cyclones Kevin and Judy at the beginning of March. 

A worker with the Red Cross in Vanuatu telling locals of the imminent threat of Tropical Cyclone Lola in northern Vanuatu. Photo / Vanuatu Red Cross Society

The New Zealand Defence Force is aware the cyclone has intensified and was monitoring the situation, a spokesman said.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said officials are monitoring Lola, with 90 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Vanuatu.

“Aotearoa New Zealand stands ready to assist our Vanuatu whānau, and to consider to any requests for assistance from the Government of Vanuatu.

“We are sending SafeTravel messaging to New Zealanders registered as being in, or travelling to, Vanuatu. New Zealanders in Vanuatu are advised to follow the advice of the local authorities (including any evacuation orders), seek suitable shelter, and keep their family and friends in New Zealand informed of their safety and wellbeing, including after the cyclone has passed.”

Wind speeds were tipped to “pick up more and more as the storm makes landfall”, head forecaster for WeatherWatch Phillip Duncan told the Herald.

“[Cyclone] Gabrielle was nothing like what this storm is now. This is more powerful,” he explained. 

“It’s a pretty intense storm. Category 5 - winds at the centre are ferocious. It’s nothing like what we get in New Zealand. It’s phenomenal.” 

Lola was, as of Tuesday night, tracking to miss the capital, Port Vila, he said. 

Weather modelling last night showed a low-pressure system near Brisbane was “basically going to steal energy from this storm”. 

“Once it passes over Vanuatu it’ll fall apart and weaken,” Duncan said. 

Vanuatu Red Cross spokeswoman Shirley Johnson told RNZ she feared the island nation does not have enough relief to support people through the cyclone. 

Members of Oxfam Vanuatu hand out cyclone tracking maps to assist communities in Pango Village on Efafe Island in southern Vanuatu. Photo / Oxfam 

Communication lines were down in Torba province, Johnson said, and no one had been able to reach anyone there. 

“We are expecting to have major, major damages. I am afraid we won’t have enough relief in time to save the people,” she said. 

Johnson said there is “only one storage facility” holding enough relief kits for only “100 households” for the Torba province’s population of more than 9000 people. 

A worker with the Red Cross in Vanuata with essential supplies as they prepare for the imminent arrival of Tropical Cyclone Lola in northern Vanuatu. Photo / Vanuatu Red Cross Society https://twitter.com/jagan_chapagain/status/1716577423268229269/photo/1 

Heavy rainfall with flash flooding is expected over low-lying areas close to riverbanks, including coastal flooding. 

The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) said volunteers are “actively engaged” in the community ahead of the cyclone and are taking stock of the relief items and informing residents of evacuation centres. 

It is possible that leftovers from a tropical low may track towards New Zealand later this week, however, it will likely fall apart or weaken significantly. 

“There is still plenty of time to clarify where and what impacts the remains of Lola will have on New Zealand,” Makgabutlane said. 

“Early indications are that into early next week, the northern parts of the country are most likely to see wetter weather and strong winds, while high pressure builds across the southern parts of New Zealand. 

“The MetService forecasting team will continue to monitor the situation in the tropics.” 

New Zealanders in Vanuatu are encouraged to register on SafeTravel and read our advice for Tropical Cyclone Lola here. New Zealanders requiring urgent consular assistance can call the 24/7 Consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.