Tropical Cyclone Maila - Apr 2026

Tropical Cyclone Maila intensified to a Category 3 system on 6 April in the Solomon Sea between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with winds up to 185 km/h. The cyclone remains slow-moving with an uncertain track, increasing the risk of prolonged exposure. (ECHO, 6 Apr 2026)

On 6 April, tropical cyclone MAILA continued moving very slowly over the Solomon Sea, with maximum sustained winds up to 176 km/h. On 7 April at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located offshore, approximately 545 km east of far south-eastern Papua New Guinea, with maximum sustained winds of 167 km/h (equivalent to cat. 2 hurricane in the Saffir-Simpson scale). (ECHO, 7 Apr 2026)

Tropical cyclone MAILA is moving towards eastern Papua New Guinea over the Solomon Sea after it crossed the Solomon Islands. On 9 April at 00 UTC, its centre was located offshore, approximately 200 km south of southern Bougainville Island (eastern Papua New Guinea), with maximum sustained winds of 185 km /h. Following its passage over Solomon Islands affecting Choiseul, Western, Isabel, Guadalcanal and Central provinces, seven people are missing, 120 have been displaced and almost 73 000 people in total are affected. (ECHO, 9 Apr 2026)

On 9 April, tropical cyclone MAILA continued moving very slowly over the Solomon Sea, with maximum sustained winds up to 185 km/h, weakening. On 10 April at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located offshore, approximately 215 km north-east of the Muyua Island (far eastern Papua New Guinea), with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h. According to media, its passage over the Solomon Sea caused heavy rainfall and consequent floods and landslides across Bougainville Island (eastern Papua New Guinea), resulting in two fatalities. (ECHO, 10 Apr 2026)

Over 10-11 April, tropical cyclone MAILA continued moving very slowly over the Solomon Sea, with maximum sustained winds up to 130 km/h, further weakening into a tropical storm and dissipating. Its passage over the Solomon Sea caused very heavy rainfall, strong winds and consequent floods, landslides and severe weather-related incidents across eastern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Media and the IFRC reports, as of 13 April, 11 fatalities (of whom eight are due to a landslide), seven still missing persons, an uncertain number of displaced people and approximately 120,000 affected people across the Bougainville island (eastern Papua New Guinea). In addition, a number of temporary shelters were provided by national authorities for the displaced people. (ECHO, 13 Apr 2026)

Papua New Guinea

25 affected communities were assessed across West New Britain, East New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, with 7,247 people affected and 5,828 people in need of humanitarian assistance. The assessed wards reported 11 deaths, 70 people who required evacuation, 293 people in need of urgent medical care, and 568 school-aged children not attending school. The NDC-NEOC joint assessment and relief teams deployed on 18 April aboard two PNGDF patrol vessels to Rossel and Woodlark islands. (UN CT Papua New Guinea, 21 Apr 2026)

Assessments had expanded to 140 wards in 23 LLGs, in 8 districts, over 5 affected provinces by 30 April. Findings indicated more than 83,000 people affected and nearly 77,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance, with 33 reported fatalities. (UN CT Papua New Guinea, 30 Apr 2026)

As of 08 May 2026, NDC-NEOC rapid assessments had expanded to 230 wards across 28 Local Level Governments (LLGs), in 10 districts, across 5 affected provinces. Preliminary analysis indicated that over 119,000 people have been affected, with nearly 107,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance. A total of 49 fatalities had been reported. (UN CT Papua New Guinea, 8 May 2026)

As of 16 May 2026, assessments had expanded to 256 wards in 29 LLGs, across 10 districts and 5 affected provinces. Preliminary findings indicated more than 128,000 people affected, with more than 114,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance, and 50 reported fatalities. As of 15 May 2026, the National Disaster Centre’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NDC-NEOC) has been deactivated as the response transitioned to the recovery phase, with coordination shifted to provincial levels. Logistics constraints persisted due to damaged infrastructure and difficult sea conditions, with reliance on air and maritime transport. (UN CT Papua New Guinea, 16 May 2026)

Solomon Islands

The most severe impacts were reported in Western Province, with significant damage recorded in Choiseul and Isabel Provinces. One fatality was reported in Wagina and seven people remained missing in Marovo as of 13 April. About 21 health facilities were impacted. The WASH situation on Simbo Island is considered critical, due to groundwater contamination and damaged water systems. A suspected diarrheal outbreak was reported in Babanga and Simbo. Approximately 31,945 individuals required emergency shelter and essential household items. 59 schools were damaged, which affected 2,000 children in Western and Choiseul provinces. (IFRC, 20 Apr 2026)

Iinitial indications suggested that over 150,000 people have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila, with 161 communities impacted in Western Province alone, reflecting the widespread scale of the disaster. Displacement remains a significant concern. 260 evacuation centers had been established across the affected provinces, and an estimated 31,000 people required urgent shelter assistance. (OCHA & Pacific Humanitarian Team, 24 Apr 2026)

Displacement assessments conducted across 13 communities in Western Province identified 844 displaced individuals. Subsequent household-level surveys (29 April–6 May) covered 203 households, highlighting evolving and still incomplete data on needs. While response efforts are ongoing, access constraints, geographic dispersion, and logistical challenges continue to limit delivery. [...] Additionally, UXO contamination risks have increased, particularly in Western Province, due to flooding and erosion exposing ordnance, posing risks during response and recovery activities. (OCHA & Pacific Humanitarian Team, 10 May 2026)