1 Feb 2011

Solomons' disaster officials say no word yet on impact of Yasi in southern islands

8:17 pm on 1 February 2011

Disaster officials in Solomon Islands say they haven't yet received any reports of damage caused by Cyclone Yasi after it moved in a westerly direction past the country's southern islands.

The cyclone is now a category three storm and is predicted to intensify as it approaches the Queensland coast late tomorrow.

An official with the National Disaster Management Office, George Baragamu, says a warning had been activated for the southern provinces but the cyclone did not make landfall.

But he says the associated wind and rain may have caused problems.

"Generally, from the contacts that we have with the provinces is that the bad weather which associated to this tropical cyclone Yasi has been felt. With regards to any reports of impacts we haven't really had sufficient information or complete data to help us decide on whether to send assessment teams or not."

On Monday the cyclone blew across the northern islands of Vanuatu.

There have been reports of flooding and disaster officials expect significant damage to food gardens.