Cyclone Maila Leaves Eleven Dead in Papua New Guinea

(MENAFN) At least 11 people are dead and a dozen more hospitalized after Tropical Cyclone Maila unleashed catastrophic floods and landslides across Papua New Guinea, local media confirmed Monday.

The National Broadcasting Corporation of PNG attributed the majority of casualties to the autonomous Bougainville region, where the storm's destruction was most severe. At least 12 survivors were admitted to medical facilities with varying degrees of injury.

The cyclone, which surged to Category 5 intensity over the Solomon Sea, tore through eastern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands — far exceeding early projections that had forecast a Category 2 or 3 landfall at the southeastern tip of New Guinea. It has since weakened to a tropical low.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape acknowledged the mounting difficulties facing emergency teams on the ground. An Australian broadcasting agency reported Marape as saying that making contact with remote communities affected by the disaster is challenging.

Despite those obstacles, Marape confirmed Monday that relief operations were already underway. "The government has begun mobilizing essential relief supplies including food rations, clean water, medical supplies and temporary shelters," he said.

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