As per reports, Severe Topical Cyclone Maila was downgraded to a Category 4 system on Wednesday (08 April) night but alerts for Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands remain. As of 0400 hours AEST on Thursday (09 April), the system had sustained winds near the centre of 185 kmph with wind gusts to 260 kmph. The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service has a tropical cyclone warning is place for Western Province.

• A shop in Gizo had part of its roof torn off in the storm. The head of police in the western Solomon Islands said the impacts from Maila were the worst the province has seen since a major earthquake and tsunami in 2007. Reports of damage to schools, clinics and residential properties are being reported.
• In Papua New Guinea, warnings remain in effect for Milne Bay Province, especially the coastal and island communities of Woodlark, Sudet, Rossel Islands, Bougainville. The governor of Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay province stated that they were unprepared for a severe cyclone. Meanwhile, a special gale force warning has been issued for Manus, New Ireland, and West and East Sepik.
• Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) National Weather Service has stated that a tropical low is developing north of the equator with strong to very strong westerly winds dominant over the northern part of PNG. Residents of Woodlark Island have reported that many of the food gardens that they rely on for their survival have been destroyed.