30 Dec 2012

Cyclone causes flooding and landslides in Solomons

9:58 pm on 30 December 2012

Emergency services in Solomon Islands are checking the damage caused by tropical cyclone Freda as it moves away from the country.

The Meteorological Service says Freda has intensified into a category four cyclone as it heads south across the Coral Sea towards New Caledonia.

However, cyclone warnings remain in place for the Solomons' islands of Rennell and Bellona.

The Solomon Islands Meteorological service said Freda had intensified into a category four cyclone, out of a maximum five, with winds of up to 230 kilometres an hour.

World Vision operations manager in the Solomons Jared Berends said there are reports of rooves torn off homes, and widespread flooding and landslides throughout the country.

Mr Berends said flooding is particularly bad in the province of Makira, but so far there have been no reports of deaths or injuries.