Muscat: Cyclone Maila has unleashed extensive flooding and landslides across Papua New Guinea, claiming at least 11 lives, with the autonomous region of Bougainville among the worst affected, according to officials and local media. The cyclone has razed entire villages after slamming into coastal areas with tremendous force.

According to Oman News Agency, the Post-Courier newspaper reported that eight people perished in an overnight landslide that buried a home under mud. The National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea said initial estimates suggest more than 10,000 people have been impacted, while some 20,000 are in urgent need of aid across Bougainville.

The destruction has displaced scores of residents and destroyed roads and bridges, disrupting food supplies. Schools are expected to remain closed throughout the week. Prime Minister James Marape said access to remote communities remains difficult as reports on the full scale of the damage continue to emerge, pledging that authorities will work to deliver relief to all affected areas.

He added that dispatched aid includes food, drinking water and the establishment of emergency shelters. The cyclone's impact also extended to the neighbouring Solomon Islands, where remote areas suffered significant damage. Australia has pledged financial support to both nations, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong affirming that Canberra stands with its neighbours.

The cyclone passed through the Solomon Sea, packing winds of approximately 300 kilometres per hour, and was briefly classified as a Category 5 storm before weakening.