27 Jan 2003

Cyclone Beni moves from Solomons to Coral Sea

5:05 pm on 27 January 2003

Cyclone Beni is slowly moving away from Solomon Islands Rennell and Bellona islands into the centre of the Coral Sea.

Reports from the Vanuatu Metreological Service say cyclone Beni is moving in a south westerly direction at about 9 kilometres an hour.

Weekend reports said Cyclone Beni was stationary over Rennell and Bellona , with winds of up to 120 kilometres an hour which also affected Guadalcanal and Makira.

The National Disaster Management Office in Solomon Islands says damage reports from Rennell and Bellona reveal no casualties, but fruit trees were destroyed and crops in low lying areas were contaminated by salt water.

A spokesperson from the Disaster Office says cyclone warnings are still in force for the affected islands.

"Winds are expected over the islands of Makira and southern parts of Guadalcanal with winds of up to forty to forty five knots and winds are expected to be over Renell and Belona of up to fifty to sixty knots we are still maintaining contact with those two islands via radio."

A spokesperson from the Solomons National and Disaster Office.