Tropical Cyclone Harold heads for Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Harold has its sights set on Vanuatu.

The category 4 severe tropical cyclone is currently impacting the Solomon Islands.

In the Solomon Islands a ferry sailed into the storm and now 24 passengers are missing.

This is the first cyclone of the season to head toward Vanuatu.

On April 3, the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office issued a yellow alert—indicating the threat of a tropical cyclone within 12 hours—for Torba and Sanma provinces in Vanuatu.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department also issued a tropical cyclone warning for these areas.

The yellow alert was upgraded to a red alert—the highest-level warning for Vanuatu—on April 4 following the upgrading of Harold to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, while yellow alerts were also issued for Malampa and Penama provinces.