Sudest people gather at safe places

As strong winds and rains intensify from Tropical Cyclone Maila, Milne Bay's Sudest Island communities report they are being advised to move to higher grounds and seek shelter from strong structures during this time.

Gregory Sonnie, a government officer on Sudest Island tells NBC, people at Western Point and surrounding areas have hunkered down at Tagula Primary School.

They've walled up classrooms, stock piled food rations and water and taken cover as we speak.

He says people are being advised to remain indoors, keep away from the edge of the sea for villages along the coast and to seek higher grounds.

They've also been asked to seek shelter in strong structures such as churches and schools, clear up anything that could cause damage, move dinghies and canoes away from the coast sea and secure them well and strengthen their dwellings while waiting out this threat.