Tikopia is located east of the ocean between the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Photo: superyachtstories.com
A remote island in Solomon Islands has sustained serious damage after it was hit by Tropical Cyclone Lola at its highest strength as a category five system.
The cyclone has left a trail of destruction in Vanuatu and the government has assured that it will assist those most affected.
Solomon Islands National Disaster Management (NDMO) has issued a situation report, confirming Tikopia Island has been significantly impacted.
116 houses, 114 kitchens and one church have been destroyed and four people, including a child, have been injured.
The water source has also sustained damages, the NDMO confirmed.
A Tikopian community member Mary Alalo who is based in Suva told RNZ Pacific families are homeless, in need of food, clean water, clothes and urgent emergency relief supplies.
Alolo said the phone tower has been damaged and the only way of communicating is through a single two way radio.
"Most of the vegetation is affected," Solomon Islands Disaster Management Office said.
"It is noted from the aerial survey that vegetation particularly in Tikopia is observed to be severely damaged."
On top of that, the NDMO said solar panels and water system is also damaged.
"For those who are not familiar about the location of Tikopia, it's closer to Vanuatu so meaning Tikopia felt the impact of cyclone Lola more severely when it was raging as category two and three cyclone whilst it was in the Solomon Islands and even more destructively when it became a category five when it moved to Vanuatu given the close proximity of Tikopia island to Vanuatu," she said in a Facebook post.
Alalo said Tikopia is so remote it takes almost two weeks via ship to get there from Honiara.
Tikopians in Honiara are planning a fundraiser.
"They are organising an urgent meeting to meet and discuss how to raise funds and contribute to really raise up emergency supplies to help our people in the island," Alalo said.
On top of that, she said there is another small Island called Anuta Island where food security is a concern.
"It's also one of those very remote communities that often very difficult to get information because of its isolation and lack of communication facilities," Alalo said.
The NDMO said the impact, particularly in Tikopia, is still sketchy.
"The full extent of the damages will be much clearer in the coming days when communication is well established on the Islands," the NDMO's latest situation report said.
In 2015, Tikopia island was one of the worst affected by category 5 Cyclone Pam, which flattened trees and crops and residents were forced to shelter themselves in caves.
More than 15,000 students in Penama province with no classrooms
Some of the classrooms at Melsisi School destroyed by Cyclone Lola. Photo: Supplied / Joseph Molkis
The deputy principal education officer of Penama Christina Garuleo said more than 15,000 students in the Penama region have been left without classroms after Cyclone Lola.
There are more than 4000 students on Ambae, more than 3000 on Marwo and more than 10,000 on Pentecost, which only recently lost all of its school buildings after Cyclone Harold in 2020.
The principal of Melsisi School in Central Pentecost Joseph Molkis said his 400 students have been sent home.
He said students who have end of year exams will be allowed back to school but the rest will have to stay home until the start of the next school year.
The country was now entering the rainy and cyclone season and the school could not take the students back, he said.
Molkis said he had been waiting for the government's Cyclone Harold recovery fund, but now Cyclone Lola has possibly tripled their cost.
The school could no longer buy new louvers or build temporary shelters due to the lack of fund, he said.
Some of the classrooms at Melsisi School destroyed by Cyclone Lola. Photo: Supplied / Joseph Molkis
However schools in provinces that remain safe are set to reopen their doors today.
Official information from the Ministry of Education and Training showed that a more cautious approach was being undertaken in provinces severely affected by the cyclone, namely Malampa and Penama.
In cases where damage was extensive, the ministry was considering using alternative buildings to ensure a safe learning environment.
Exam schedules remained unchanged but the ministry was exploring alternative measures to support students who may have suffered severe individual and academic setbacks due to the cyclone's impact.
To streamline the assessment process, all affected schools were strongly advised to promptly complete the Education Rapid Assessment Form (RAF).
The ministry said it expected all RAF submissions to be in their possession no later than 1 November, 2023, in a unified effort to address the needs of affected schools and students during these challenging times.
