Country: Solomon Islands Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 07-04-2026 What happened, where and when? Tropical Cyclone Maila developed in the Solomon Sea and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 cyclone, bringing gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, rough seas, and large swells. As a slow-moving and unusually intense system for the region, it caused prolonged exposure to severe weather conditions, resulting in widespread flooding, coastal inundation, and significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and essential services. The event began as a consolidating tropical disturbance in the Solomon Sea region around 5–6 April 2026. It strengthened to Category 3, with sustained winds near the centre of about 120 km/h and gusts exceeding 165 km/h. On 8 April, Cyclone Maila reached Category 5 strength and remained an extremely dangerous system, moving slowly across Western Province. By 10 April, it had weakened to Category 4 and moved southwest towards Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea, before tracking west-northwest toward far north Queensland, Australia. The system gradually weakened to a tropical low on 11 April. The cyclone affected areas across the Solomon Islands, with a red alert issued for Western, Isabel, and Choiseul Provinces, while an orange alert was in effect for Central, Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira, Temotu, and Rennell and Bellona Provinces. The most severe impacts were recorded in Western and Choiseul Provinces, where a State of Disaster was declared on 10 April, with significant damage also recorded in Isabel. Additional impacts were reported in Guadalcanal and Central Provinces, particularly in coastal and low-lying island communities that are highly exposed to storm surge and flooding. Affected areas experienced gale-force winds, very rough seas, large swells (3. 5–6. 0 m), coastal flooding, and widespread heavy rainfall with thunderstorms. The situation remains ongoing, with continued humanitarian impacts and response efforts underway, while assessments will continue in the coming weeks. Access to affected areas remains constrained due to flooding, landslides, and damaged transport routes, and communication remains limited.
Solomon Islands: Tropical Cyclone Maila 2026 – DREF Operation (MDRSB007)
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