Cyclone Maila in Papua New Guinea

Tropical Cyclone Maila brought severe flooding, deadly landslides, and destructive storm conditions across multiple regions of Papua New Guinea. The impacts were concentrated in Bougainville, although several other provinces also experienced damage.

Cyclone Maila swept through the Solomon Sea with Category 5 winds reaching up to 300 km/h before weakening as it moved into Papua New Guinea. The storm triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure collapse, particularly in Bougainville. Entire villages were destroyed in both coastal and inland areas, with homes swept away by floodwaters or buried under mud.

At least 11 people were killed, including eight members of a single family in Central Bougainville’s Asiko Village, where a landslide buried their home. More than 10,000 people were affected, and around 20,000 were reported to be in urgent need of assistance.

The PNG government deployed assessment teams, though communication with remote areas remained difficult. Local organisations and mining companies, including Bougainville Copper, delivered food and essential supplies to affected families.