Vanuatu, New Caledonia (France) - Tropical Cyclone LOLA (ECHO 23 Oct 2023)Mon, 23 Oct 2023 10:44
- A new tropical cyclone named LOLA formed over the South Pacific Ocean on 21 October and started moving south toward Vanuatu, strengthening. On 23 October at 5.00 UTC its centre was located over the Ocean approximately 230 km north-east of the Vanua Lava Island (Torba Province, northern Vanuatu) and 385 km north-east of Luganville City (Espiritu Santo Island, Sanma Province, central Vanuatu), with maximum sustained winds up to 140 km/h
- On the forecast track, LOLA is expected to continue southwestward and to pass between the Espiritu Santo Island and the Malekula Islands in the afternoon (UTC) of 24 October, with maximum sustained winds of 130-145 km/h. After that, it could reach the southern New Caledonia (France) on 27-28 October, as a tropical storm.
- Over the next 72 hours, very heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge are forecast over the whole Vanuatu.
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationMon, 23 Oct 2023 05:04
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Vanuatu, New Caledonia (France) - Tropical cyclone LOLA, update (ECHO 24 Oct 2023)Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:21
- Tropical cyclone LOLA is moving towards northern Vanuatu, strengthening. On 24 October at 4.00 UTC, its centre was located over the Ocean approximately 175 km east southeast of Sola City (Vanua Lava Island) and 100 km northeast of Maewo Island, with maximum sustained winds up to 215 km/h.
- LOLA is expected to continue southwestward and to cross northern Vanuatu, and it could affect the Provinces of Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shaefa in the next 24 hours where a severe Tropical Cyclone Warning is in effect.
- Vanuatu’s government has convened an inter-agency briefing with officials from the National Disaster Management Authority to plan an emergency response. Santo Island was experiencing strong winds, and evacuations have begun for residents across the north of the country, according to Vanuatu Red Cross. DG ECHO partners in the field are on preparedness mode.
- Over the next 72 hours, very heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge are forecast over most of Vanuatu.
LOLA-23 - EC/ECHO daily mapTue, 24 Oct 2023 18:12
A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Vanuatu - Tropical cyclone LOLA, update (ECHO 25 Oct 2023)Wed, 25 Oct 2023 11:12
- Severe Tropical Cyclone LOLA (category 3) has moved in a southwest direction and is expected to affect the Islands of Penama, Malampa and Shefa in the next 24 hours. Power and communication networks have been cut, making it difficult to report the impact on those islands at this stage.
- Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has activated offices in six provinces, ready to carry out a rapid assessment after the cyclone. 300 evacuation centres with many located in schools and churches were set up throughout Vanuatu. Port Vila, the capital, is on red alert and all government offices, markets, and banks are closed until further notice.
- Heavy rainfalls with flash flooding are expected over low-lying areas and areas close to river banks, including coastal flooding. Very rough seas with heavy to phenomenal swells are expected over all Vanuatu waters.
- On 25 October, Vanuatu requested support from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), consisting of a surveillance flight, shelter kits, tarpaulins.
- The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 24 October to provide damage assessment.
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationWed, 25 Oct 2023 14:26
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Vanuatu, New Caledonia (France) - Tropical Cyclone LOLA, update (ECHO 26 Oct 2023)Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:25
- Tropical cyclone LOLA passed over Malekula Island, Malampa Province, central Vanuatu on very early in the morning (UTC) of 25 October as a tropical cyclone and continued south-west over the Pacific Ocean. 26 October at 0.00 (UTC) its centre was located over the Ocean approximately 350 km north of the north-eastern New Caledonia (France), with maximum sustained winds of 46 km/h (tropical depression).
- As of 26 October, media report damage to infrastructure, schools, some destroyed houses and a number of blocked roads across Penama and Malampa Provinces.
- LOLA is forecast to continue southwestward over the Ocean, further weakening and dissipating in the afternoon (UTC) of 26 October, well off the coast of northern New Caledonia. Over the next 48 hours, very heavy rainfall, strong wind and storm surge are forecast over the whole Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
- On 25 October, Vanuatu requested support from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), consisting of a surveillance flight, shelter kits, tarpaulins. France responded offering two surveillance flights.
- The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 24 October to provide damage assessment.
Vanuatu, New Caledonia (France) - Tropical Cyclone LOLA, update (ECHO 27 Oct 2023)Fri, 27 Oct 2023 09:52
- Very heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges caused by the passage of the tropical cyclone LOLA (with maximum sustained winds up to 222 km/h) on 24-25 October (UTC) over central and northern Vanuatu caused widespread and severe damage.
- The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and media report that as of 27 October, approximately 10,000 houses have been damaged and a number of schools and bridges destroyed. There has also been damage to the road network across Penama, Malampa, Sanma and Torba Provinces (central-northern Vanuatu). The Pentecost Island (Penama Province) is the worst affected area.
- On 25 October, Vanuatu requested support from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), consisting of a surveillance flight, shelter kits, tarpaulins. France responded offering two airplane surveillance flights and eight surveillance and transportation helicopter flights.
- The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode to provide the damage assessment, two maps were produced so far.
- More rainfall is forecast over the whole Vanuatu and New Caledonia over the next 24 hours.
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationFri, 27 Oct 2023 10:39
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationThu, 26 Oct 2023 14:54
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
LOLA-23 - Copernicus EMS activationSun, 29 Oct 2023 13:30
[EMSR702] Tropical Cyclone LOLA in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands
LOLA-23 - Copernicus EMS activationSat, 28 Oct 2023 15:30
[EMSR702] Tropical Cyclone LOLA in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands
LOLA-23 - Copernicus EMS activationFri, 27 Oct 2023 16:41
[EMSR702] Tropical Cyclone LOLA in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands
LOLA-23 - Copernicus EMS activationThu, 26 Oct 2023 13:55
[EMSR702] Tropical Cyclone LOLA in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands
LOLA-23 - Copernicus EMS activationMon, 30 Oct 2023 19:00
[EMSR702] Tropical Cyclone LOLA in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationTue, 31 Oct 2023 08:51
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
LOLA-23 - Copernicus EMS activationTue, 31 Oct 2023 12:00
[EMSR702] Tropical Cyclone LOLA in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationWed, 01 Nov 2023 09:47
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Vanuatu, Solomon Islands - Tropical Cyclone LOLA, update (ECHO 02 Nov 2023)Thu, 02 Nov 2023 10:17
- Tropical cyclone LOLA made landfall on 22 October (UTC) in Solomon Islands and on 24-25 October (UTC) on northern Vanuatu causing widespread and severe damage.
- According to OCHA, as of 1 November, more than 22,319 people were affected in Solomon Islands, more than 100 buildings have been destroyed and water sources have been damaged.
- OCHA reports that, in Vanuatu, the most affected areas are Penama and Malampa Provinces. Approximately 110,750 people have been affected and the urgent needs are on WASH and shelters. A State of Emergency has been declared for Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shefa Provinces for six months.
- The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode to provide the damage assessment, 12 maps have been produced so far.
- More heavy rainfall is forecast over the whole Vanuatu and Solomon Islands over the next 24 hours.
LOLA-23 - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationTue, 07 Nov 2023 11:09
UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
