Melanesia

Cyclone Ana wreaks havoc as it batters Fiji

More than 7,600 people, many of them rescued from flooded villages, were taking shelter in evacuation centres.

Fiji scrambles to provide aid as death toll from cyclone rises

A state of natural disaster has been declared for 30 days as emergency services rush to provide food and clothing to the worst affected areas.

Fiji braces for flooding, huge waves as Cat 5 Cyclone Yasa approaches

Fiji has issued a nationwide lockdown and declared a state of natural disaster as Cyclone Yasa barrels towards the island nation.

New Caledonia rejects independence from France in vote

French South Pacific territory narrowly rejects independence in a referendum, with the 'no' camp bagging 53.26 percent and the 'yes' camp receiving 46.7 percent of votes.

UK records more than 1,000 new Covid-19 infections – latest updates

The coronavirus pandemic has now infected over 19.8 million people and has killed more than 730,000. Here are the latest updates for August 9:

Cyclone Harold flattens homes, brings injuries in Fiji

Cyclone Harold, its strength ranked in the highest category of five, passed over Fiji's south at about midday, levelling homes and snapping communications links in the archipelago, which has adopted curbs on movement to rein in the virus.

Monster cyclone tears through Vanuatu town

Tropical Cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 lives when it swept through the Solomon Islands last week, lashed Vanuatu's northern provinces overnight as a scale-topping category five superstorm.

Vanuatu braces as monster Cyclone Harold strengthens in Pacific

Tropical cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 lives when it swept through the Solomon Islands last week, strengthened overnight Sunday as it moved east towards Vanuatu.

Twenty-seven confirmed missing in Solomons ferry tragedy

The inter-island ferry sailed into a severe storm ignoring weather warnings. While a search of the area found plenty of debris, there was no sighting of any bodies, police superintendent Richard Menapi said.

Dozens feared dead after Solomons ferry ignores storm warning

The MV Taimareho set sail on Thursday night as tropical cyclone Harold bore down on the Solomons, and with weather forecasters warning against any unnecessary voyages.

One dead, more than 2,500 evacuated as Cyclone Sarai lashes Fiji

The Fiji National Disaster Management Office said one person was in intensive care and more than 2,500 people had moved to 70 evacuation centers.

Nearly 2,000 evacuated, one missing as cyclone hammers Fiji

National Disaster Management Office Director Vasiti Soko urged locals and the thousands of tourists in Fiji not to be reckless as Sarai lashed the Pacific island nation with heavy rain and destructive winds.