Manus on high alert as Gale winds threaten coastal communities

​The National Weather Service has issued an urgent directive for Manus residents to exercise extreme caution as northwest gale force winds begin to batter the province.

PNG National Weather Service ​Assistant, Director Benjamin Malai reported that despite the distance of Tropical Cyclone Maila, the primary threat to Manus stems from a secondary effect of the regional weather pattern: a tropical low situated north of the equator.

​Current synoptic reports confirm that winds between 34 and 47 knots are already impacting the province.

Forecasters anticipate these conditions will intensify, reaching storm-force strengths of up to 55 knots between Thursday evening and Sunday evening.

Malai emphasizes that this is a high-priority safety situation.

"The strong wind expected is something we at Manus do not usually experience and so to be on the safe side, do not travel near the sea especially the boats that travel from Rambutso, Baluan, Bipi and M'Buke.

"People from Lou Island and the Western group of Islands are also not allowed to travel on the sea until further notice," Malai cautioned.

The National Weather Service is strongly advising all residents in coastal villages of Manus to move away from the shoreline and is calling for a total suspension of all sea travel until the system subsides.