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Tropical Cyclone Hola Headed Toward New Caledonia

by Reuters

   WELLINGTON --

   Tropical Cyclone Hola was set to batter New Caledonia on Friday, after
   tearing off roofs and knocking out communications in Vanuatu earlier in
   the week.

   The storm weakened to a category 3 from category 4, Fiji's Meteorology
   Service said Thursday evening.

   The cyclone was expected to veer southeast toward New Caledonia's
   Loyalty Islands on Friday, bringing severe wind, rain and waves, New
   Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research (NIWA)
   said.

   The Red Cross in Vanuatu told Radio New Zealand that the storm had
   blown over houses on Malekula and Ambrym Islands, forcing many
   residents into evacuation centers on Wednesday and Thursday. It had
   also damaged the cellphone network in parts of the country, the Red
   Cross and UNICEF said.

   New Zealand's Metservice warned the remnants of the storm could hit New
   Zealand early the following week, bringing heavy rain, wind and large
   costal swells to the country's upper North Island.