View source for Cyclone Namu

{{Short description|Category 3 South Pacific and Australian region cyclone in 1986}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu
| image = Cyclone Namu.png
| caption = Cyclone Namu near its peak intensity
| formed = May 15, 1986
| dissipated = May 22, 1986
}}{{Infobox weather event/BoM
| winds = 70
| pressure = 960
}}{{Infobox weather event/FMS
| winds = 80
| pressure = 955
}}{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 85
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| damages = 25000000
| currency=SBD
| fatalities = 63 - 150
| affected = [[Solomon Islands]], [[Vanuatu]], [[New Caledonia]]
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 1985–86 [[1985–86 South Pacific cyclone season|South Pacific]] and the [[1985–86 Australian region cyclone season|Australian region]] cyclone seasons
}}

'''Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu''' was considered to be one of the worst [[tropical cyclone]]s to impact the [[Solomon Islands]] on record, after it caused over 100 deaths within the island nations. It was first noted as a weak tropical depression to the north of the Solomon Islands during May 15, 1986. Over the next couple of days, the storm steadily intensified while meandering. After briefly moving west, the storm attained [[tropical cyclone scales|Category 2 intensity]] on the [[tropical cyclone scales|Australian intensity scale]] on May 18, as it moved through the island chain on the next day. Cyclone Namu attained peak intensity of {{convert|80|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}}. After retaining its peak intensity for a day, Namu turned south and weakened steadily. By May 21, the winds of Cyclone Namu had been reduced to only {{convert|80|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}. Continuing to weaken, Namu turned east and dissipated on May 22, away from the island chain.

The system impacted the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia and caused over 100 deaths, as well as varying amounts of damage to the island nations. As a result, the name Namu was later [[List of retired South Pacific cyclone names|retired]] from the lists of tropical cyclone names for the South Pacific by the [[World Meteorological Organization]].

The storm's slow motion allowed for prolonged periods of heavy rainfall, resulting in phenomenal flooding across the Solomon Islands. The islands of Malaita and [[Guadalcanal]] experienced the most significant damage from Namu. Coastal areas of the former were severely damaged by rough seas and strong winds, especially along the eastern side where entire villages were destroyed. Meanwhile, on the island of Guadalcanal, a village of 43 people had only 5 survivors. Moreover, Cyclone Namu flooded 75% of Guadalcanal's plains. In addition, 22% of homes were either damaged or destroyed on the island.

Across the Solomon Island group, schools, buildings, electricity, water supplies, roads, communication systems, forests, and agriculture sustained widespread damage. In some regions, nearly all homes were destroyed. Mudslides destroyed roads, bridges, water pipes and drainage systems. Crops such as cocoa, copra, coffee, and rice were destroyed. Villages throughout the entire island group sustained severe damage. Overall, approximately 90,000 people, one third of the country's population, were reported as homeless. In all, Cyclone Namu was responsible for at least 150&nbsp;deaths, mostly from flooding and landslides. Property damage and economic losses across the Solomon Islands totaled $25&nbsp;million and $100&nbsp;million (1986 [[United States Dollar|USD]]) respectively. During the aftermath of the storm, the government of the Solomon Islands declared a national state of emergency. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, [[Papua New Guinea]], the United States, and Japan also sent supplies and goods to the Solomon Islands.

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Namu 1986_track.png}}
Towards the middle of May 1986, two tropical depressions developed within a monsoon trough of low pressure that was located on either side of the equator between the [[Mariana Islands]] and the [[Marshall Islands]] as well as in between [[Tuvalu]] and the [[Solomon Islands]].<ref name="May 1986 DTDS">{{cite journal|journal=Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |year=1986 |issn=1321-4233 |page=3 |url-status=dead|title=May 1986 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ntregion/statements/tropical/dtds-198605.pdf |access-date=May 15, 2021 |volume=5 |issue=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051807/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ntregion/statements/tropical/dtds-198605.pdf}}</ref><ref name="JTWC 1986 ATCR">{{cite report |title=1986 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report |year=1987 |page=27 |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/1986atcr.pdf |access-date=August 5, 2024 |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123172010/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/atcr/1986atcr.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The first of these tropical depression went on to become [[1986 Pacific typhoon season#Super Typhoon Lola|Typhoon Lola]] in the Northern Hemisphere, while the second system was first noted by the [[Fiji Meteorological Service]] (FMS) during May 15, while it was located about {{convert|90|nmi|km mi|round=5|abbr=on|order=out}} to the north of [[Malaita]] in the Solomon Islands.<ref name="Solomon Disasters">{{cite book|author=Radford, Deirdre A|publisher=The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau|title=Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands|archive-date=September 27, 2015|author2=Blong, Russell J|edition=2|volume=1|year=1992|pages=113–122|url-status=dead|url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v1_1992_s.pdf.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927233107/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v1_1992_s.pdf.pdf|access-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref>

During the next day, as the depression moved eastwards, it showed signs of weakening with clouds associated with the system disintegrating.<ref name="Namu TCR">{{cite report|author=Kumar, Pradeep|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|date=August 28, 1986|title=Tropical Cyclone Namu: Preliminary Report}}</ref> However, the system remained in an area favourable for [[Tropical cyclogenesis]], before the system re-intensified and developed two weak [[Rainband|feeder bands]].<ref name="Namu TCR"/> The United States [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] <small>(JTWC)</small> subsequently started to issue warnings on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 33P early on May 17, after the depression had developed gale-force winds.<ref name="JTWC ATCR">{{cite report|title=1986 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1986atcr.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |access-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113181124/https://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1986atcr.pdf|pages=183–190 }}</ref> During that day, the system moved south-westwards and acquired the characteristics of a tropical cyclone, before it was named Namu by the FMS, while it was located about {{convert|30|nmi|km mi|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} to the north of [[Sikaiana]].<ref name="85-86 Aus SS">{{cite report|author=Kingston, G|title=The Australian tropical cyclone season 1985-86|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/1986/kingston.pdf|journal=Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal|access-date=January 26, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804010710/http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/1986/kingston.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report">{{cite report|publisher=Solomon Islands National Disaster Council |title=Report on Cyclone Namu|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-date=November 3, 2021|url=http://www.ndmo.gov.sb/media/pdfs/JB_DM211_SLB_1986_report_on_cyclone_Namu.pdf|date=December 1986 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103031608/https://www.ndmo.gov.sb/media/pdfs/JB_DM211_SLB_1986_report_on_cyclone_Namu.pdf}}</ref>

After being named, the system continued to move south-westwards and continued to intensify, before an [[Eye (cyclone)|eye feature]] was reported as it passed over Malaita during May 18.<ref name="Namu TCR"/><ref name="Solomon Disasters"/> After Namu had crossed Malaita, the FMS estimated that Namu had developed a small ring of hurricane-force winds, about {{convert|20-30|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} from the centre.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> They also estimated that the system had peaked with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of {{convert|80|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}}, which made it a Category&nbsp;3 severe tropical cyclone on the [[Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale]].<ref name="IBTRACS Namu">{{cite web|publisher=The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|access-date=January 26, 2020|title=1986 Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu (1986135S07160)|url=https://ncics.org/ibtracs/index.php?name=v04r01-1986135S07160|archive-date=June 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612213748/https://ncics.org/ibtracs/index.php?name=v04r01-1986135S07160|url-status=live}}</ref> At around this time, the JTWC estimated that Namu had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of {{convert|85|kn|km/h mph|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}}, which made it equivalent to a Category&nbsp;2 hurricane on the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale]].<ref name="JTWC ATCR"/><ref name="IBTRACS Namu"/> The system subsequently crossed Guadalcanal and 160°E where it moved into the Australian region during May 19, where a broad and ragged eye became visible in satellite imagery but quickly became obscured by high cloud.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> Namu subsequently came under the influence of high level [[westerlies|westerly winds]], which steered the system on a south-easterly track and back into the South Pacific basin.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> After it moved back into the South Pacific basin, Namu accelerated towards southern Vanuatu and rapidly weakened into a depression, as cold air from the [[subtropics]] wrapped into the system.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Revell, Cliff G|title=Tropical Cyclone Namu|journal=Weather and Climate|year=1986|volume=6|issue=2|pages=67–69|jstor=44279721|publisher=The Meteorological Society of New Zealand|doi=10.2307/44279721}}</ref> Namu subsequently dissipated during May 22, after it had merged into an eastwards moving [[trough (meteorology)|trough]] of low pressure near south-eastern Vanuatu.<ref name="Namu TCR"/><ref name="May 1986 DTDS"/>

==Solomon Islands==
The FMS started to issue special weather bulletins for the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) during May 15, which advised that the system had gale-force winds associated with it and that it would affect [[Malaita]] and smaller islands.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> As a result, the SIMS issued a gale warning before the bulletins were suspended during the next day, after the system weakened and it became doubtful that gales were associated with the depression.<ref name="Namu TCR"/><ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report"/> After the depression was named Namu during May 17, the FMS resumed issuing the weather bulletins, which advised the SIMS of the threat posed by Namu to [[Malaita]], [[Guadalcanal]], [[Makira|San Cristobal]] and other smaller islands.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> Over the next few days, these bulletins were revised accordingly and advised the SIMS which areas would be affected by [[Beaufort Scale|gale, storm and hurricane-force winds]] and the threat of flooding from rain or [[storm surge]].<ref name="Namu TCR"/> These bulletins were subsequently used by the SIMS to prepare various [[tropical cyclone warnings and watches|gale and tropical cyclone warnings]], which were subsequently broadcast in English and [[Pidgin]] around the clock by the [[Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation]].<ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report"/><ref name="Solsdisasters">{{cite book|author=Radford, Deirdre A|publisher=The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau|title=Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands|archive-date=May 2, 2014|author2=Blong, Russell J|edition=2|volume=1|year=1992|pages=113–122|url-status=dead|url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v1_1992_s.pdf.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502075901/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v1_1992_s.pdf.pdf|access-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref> As the system approached and moved over the island nation on May 18, the Solomon Islands National Disaster Council was convened to oversee the relief effort.<ref name="Time of Need">{{cite book |author1=Bullard, Steven |title=In their Time of Need : Australia's Overseas Emergency Relief Operations 1918-2006. Volume 6, The Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations |date=2017 |isbn=9781107026346 |chapter=13 - An outstanding overall effort|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref> Within the Solomon Islands, initial expectations were for a run of the mill tropical cyclone of a moderate intensity to impact the Solomon Islands.<ref name="Time of Need"/> However, many people were caught off guard by the cyclone's sudden increase in winds and the prolonged heavy rain, especially in remote areas where weather forecasts were difficult to disseminate because of communication problems.<ref name="Namu TCR"/>

===Weather===
Namu impacted the Solomon Islands between May 17&nbsp;- 20, with torrential and prolonged rainfall, high seas, gale to hurricane-force winds, wind gusts of over {{convert|150|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, which caused flooding, landslides, mudslides, tidal and wind surges throughout the island nation.<ref name="Namu TCR"/><ref name="Time of Need"/> In particular it was estimated that storm or hurricane-force winds had impacted [[Malaita]], [[Small Malaita]], [[Guadalcanal]], [[Bellona Island|Bellona]], as well as other smaller islands, that the Namu's [[Eye (cyclone)|center]] had passed within {{convert|50|to|65|km|mi|abbr=on|round=5}} off.<ref name="Namu TCR"/><ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report" /> They also estimated that gale-force winds had impacted the area in between [[Makira|San Cristóbal]], the [[Russell Islands]], [[Santa Isabel Island|Santa Isabel]] and the northern tip of Malaita.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> However, because of Namu's slow movement through the island nation, the majority of the deaths and damages, were caused by heavy rain, floods and mudslides, rather than as a direct effect of Namu's winds.<ref name="Namu TCR"/>  It was later estimated that parts of Guadalcanal had over {{convert|600|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall, while the weather station at [[Honiara International Airport|Henderson Field]] recorded a rainfall total of {{convert|353|mm|in|abbr=on}} between May 18&nbsp;- 21.<ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report" /><ref name=geologicalimpact>{{cite web|title=Geological Impacts of Cyclone Namu on the Coastal Plain of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands&nbsp;— June 1986|url=http://ict.sopac.org/VirLib/PR0022.pdf|publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Applied Geoscience and Technology Division|access-date=March 27, 2013|author=Roy, Peter|date=June 1986|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221358/http://ict.sopac.org/VirLib/PR0022.pdf|archive-date=December 17, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Death toll===
Namu is commonly thought to have caused 150 deaths when it impacted the Solomon Islands, however, this death toll is disputed with different totals listed in reliable sources.{{#tag:ref|References for Severe Tropical Cyclone Namu causing 150 deaths in the Solomon Islands.<ref name="Solomon Disasters" /><ref name="Met-Mar"/><ref name="Impact">{{cite journal|author=Britton, Neil R|title=Disaster in the South Pacific: Impact of tropical cyclone "Namu" on the Solomon Islands, May 1986|journal=Disasters|year=1987|volume=11|issue=2|pages=120–137|doi=10.1111/j.1467-7717.1987.tb00627.x}}</ref> |group="nb"|name="150 Deaths"}}<ref name="Time of Need" /><ref name="Volume 4">{{cite report|publisher=Macquarie University|title=Natural Disasters in the Solomon Islands Final Report: Natural hazards and risk assessment in the Solomon Islands|access-date=May 2, 2022|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v4_1992.pdf|date=July 1991|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200328/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/SLB_Nat_Disasters_v4_1992.pdf|author1=Blong, Russell J|author2=Radford, Deirdre A}}</ref> Within their final report, the Solomon Islands National Disaster Council reported that Namu had caused about 103 deaths, however, only 63 people were listed as dead or missing.<ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report"/> In particular they noted that 49 of these deaths occurred on Guadalcanal, 11 on Malaita, 2 in the Temotu province and 1 on Makaria.<ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report"/> During July 1991, Russell Blong and Deirdre Radford of [[Macquarie University]] published the results of an extensive survey into the natural disasters in the Solomon Islands, which "positively identified" 111 deaths in association with Cyclone Namu.<ref name="Time of Need" /><ref name="Volume 4"/>

===Sikaiana===
During May 17, the newly named Tropical Cyclone Namu passed within {{convert|30|nmi|km mi|round=5|order=out|abbr=on|sortable=on}} of the isolated atoll: [[Sikaiana]], which bore the brunt of the system as it approached the Solomon Islands.<ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report" /><ref name="Time of Need" /> Storm surge associated with the cyclone inundated the island with salt water, which contaminated water wells and exacerbated difficulties with fresh water supplies.<ref name="Solomon Disasters" /><ref name="OFDA 1986">{{cite report|title=OFDA Annual Report FY 1986|year=1987|volume=11|issue=2|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/583453FEBE5902C4C125777D00523120-AR1986.pdf|pages=97–103|publisher=Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance|access-date=May 2, 2022|archive-date=May 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502163154/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/583453FEBE5902C4C125777D00523120-AR1986.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The storm surge also destroyed the majority of the traditional housing that had been made out of palm fronds and left the islanders without any food, water or shelter.<ref name="Solomon Disasters" /><ref name="OFDA 1986"/> Over the next few weeks, the islanders relied on coconut milk, until [[HMAS Brunei|HMAS ''Brunei'']] was able to deliver relief supplies and over 200 drums of fresh water on June 4.<ref name="Time of Need" />

===Malaita===
After impacting Sikaiana, Namu moved south-westwards towards the southern part of Malaita, where it seemed to slow down and remain near-stationary for around five hours.<ref name="OFDA 1986" /> High winds associated with Namu, damaged roofs and defoliated the hills over central, southern and western Malaita, while waves damaged the coastline.<ref name="OFDA 1986" />

====Gudalcanal====
Within the island nation meandering rivers changed their course and cut a straight path, which brought mud, silt and debris to rich farming areas.<ref name="Namu TCR"/> The floods also exposed a site of an American and Japanese World War 2 ammunition dump on Guadalcanal from Henderson Field to [[Red Beach, Guadalcanal|Red Beach]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Typhoon Exposes Huge World War II Ordnance Dump On Guadalcanal |url=https://apnews.com/article/a8f77d1a0a16787ad8f243509ed2de20|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505133920/https://apnews.com/article/a8f77d1a0a16787ad8f243509ed2de20|archivedate=May 5, 2022 |work=Associated Press |date=June 10, 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Namu brings wartime echo to the Solomons|date=June 11, 1986|agency=Nationwide News|newspaper=The Advertiser}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

===Makira===

===Rennell and Bellona===
Namu passed just to the west of the [[Rennell and Bellona Province]], with both islands in the province feeling the effects of the cyclone.<ref name="OFDA 1986" /> On Rennell Island, 20 houses were destroyed while both the school and the airstrip were damaged by storm surge, high winds and heavy rain.<ref name="Solomon Disasters" /> The damage to Bellona was considered more serious with 160 traditional houses destroyed by storm surge, high winds and heavy rain.<ref name="Solomon Disasters" /><ref name="OFDA 1986" />

===Impact===
[[File:Cyclone Namu Bridge Damage.jpg|thumb|Bridge damaged by Namu|alt=Image showing a mangled bridge split across a river with wood debris piled up against a section of the bridge.]]

Most of the damage caused by Cyclone Namu occurred due to river flooding.<ref name=geologicalimpact /><ref name=solomonislandsflooding /> The cyclone affected 48% of the Solomon's land area and 62% of its total population.<ref name=EDF1>{{cite news|type=Press Release|title=European Development Fund|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-87-42_en.htm|access-date=June 11, 2013|newspaper=Europa Press Release|date=January 21, 1987}}</ref> Along the eastern coast of the island, damage was massive; entire villages were destroyed. Gardens were devastated and walking pathways were blocked.<ref name="SREP1"/><ref name=UCP>{{cite book|title=Custom and Confrontation|year=1992|publisher=The [[University of Chicago]] Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/customconfrontat00kees/page/167 167]|url=https://archive.org/details/customconfrontat00kees|url-access=registration|quote=Cyclone Namu.}}</ref><ref name=REUFCV>{{cite news|title=Relief effort underway for cyclone victims|date=May 21, 1986|agency=United Press International}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> In Babanakira, 5&nbsp;people died.<ref name=STRSRK>{{cite news|title=Solomons cyclone toll rises / 71 reported killed|newspaper=The Guardian|date=May 23, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

On the island of Guadalcanal, a single [[mudslide]] was responsible for killing 38&nbsp;villagers.<ref name=guadalcanalmudslide>{{cite news|title=Slide ravages Guadalcanal village|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SiocAAAAIBAJ&pg=4946,4841391&dq=cyclone+namu&hl=en|access-date=March 27, 2013|newspaper=The Daily Courier|date=May 22, 1986|agency=United Press International|page=3A}}</ref> Of the 43&nbsp;people that lived in the small town of Valebaibai, only 5 survived, all of whom narrowly escaped.<ref name=CSTCN /> Moreover, 14 dead bodies were found in the central and southern areas of Guadalcanal on May 21 when flood waters began to recede.<ref name=VOTEBUM>{{cite news|title=Village of 38 buried under mudslide|date=May 22, 1986|agency=United Press International}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

Deep flood water covered 75% of the island's (Guadalcanal) coastal plain;<ref name="Cyclone Namu 1986">{{cite journal|title=Flood and Landslide Hazard mapping|date=June 1990|issue=182|page=138|url=http://iahs.info/redbooks/a192/iahs_192_0138.pdf|access-date=March 29, 2013|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806002202/http://iahs.info/redbooks/a192/iahs_192_0138.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> these waters cut off channels and destroyed coastal villages. Furthermore, the Lungga, Ngalimbiu, Mberande, and Nggurambusu rivers sustained the worst flood damage;<ref name="geologicalimpact"/> water depth in some of the aforementioned rivers reached {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bell|first=Johann|title=Vulnerability of Tropical Pacific Fisheries and Aquaculture to Climate Change|year=2011|page=396|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=anVzlUv_864C&q=cyclone+namu&pg=PA396|author2=Hobday, Alistar|publisher=Pacific Community |isbn=9789820004719|access-date=June 1, 2013|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806002204/https://books.google.com/books?id=anVzlUv_864C&q=cyclone+namu&pg=PA396#v=snippet&q=cyclone%20namu&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Many trees were brought down due to high winds.<ref name="geologicalimpact"/> Also, numerous plantations were destroyed across the island. However, little [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]] occurred on the island.<ref name="geologicalimpact"/> Moreover, 22% of homes on the island were either damaged or destroyed.<ref name="Solomon Disasters"/> One bridge was also destroyed on the island.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Graham Baines|title=Cyclone "Namu" and the North Guadalcanal Coast, Solomon Islands: Implications for Economic Development|journal=Paper Presented at Workshop on Coastal Processes in the South Pacific Island Nations|date=October 1–7, 1987|url=https://www.academia.edu/2113799|access-date=March 29, 2013|archive-date=April 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408011140/https://www.academia.edu/2113799|url-status=live}}</ref> Offshore [[Honiara]], the capital of the nation, two ships [one was {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on|round=5}} long and the other was {{convert|120|ft|m|abbr=on|round=5}} long] each sank during the storm.<ref name=MTFMTHFCN>{{cite news|title=More than 50 missing, Thousands Homeless From Cyclone|date=May 19, 1986|agency=Associated Press}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> Throughout the capital, several schools were destroyed. The two bridges that connected the city with the island of Guadalcanal were destroyed, thus leaving Honiara isolated.<ref name=UTFMTTHICISM /> Furthermore, about 5,000&nbsp;homeless were left homeless across the city,<ref name=FMIS>{{cite AV media|title=50 Missing in Solomons|medium=Telegraph|publisher=QNP, TEL|date=May 20, 1986}}</ref> 2,000 of whom sought refuge in a local college due to the storm. Although no people were to have confirmed to have died in the city, five children were reported missing in one of the capital's suburbs, Ngalimera.<ref name=UTFMTTHICISM>{{cite news|title=Up to 50 missing, 10,000 homeless in cyclone in Solomon Islands|date=May 19, 1986|agency=United Press International}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

In both Guadalacal and Malatia, extensive areas of irrigated rice crops were submerged under floodwaters and mud.<ref name="Namu TCR" /> In some areas, nearly all homes were destroyed. Mudslides and logs destroyed roads, bridges, water pipes and drainage systems. Crops such as [[Cocoa bean|cocoa]], [[copra]], [[coffee]], and [[rice]] were destroyed, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.<ref name=CSTCN /> Additionally, communication between the outer and island of the Solomon group was completely destroyed.<ref name=CRSI>{{cite news|title=cyclone ravages Solomon Islands|date=May 20, 1986|agency=The Xinhua General Overseas News Service}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

In all, approximately 90,000&nbsp;people, one third of the country's population, were reportedly homeless.<ref name=solomonislandsflooding /><ref>{{cite AV media|title=6 dead in Cyclone Horror|medium=Telegraph|publisher=QNP, TEN|date=May 22, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> The southern islands of the Solomon's chain were seriously affected by the passage of Namu, becoming the worst tropical cyclone to impact the area in five years.<ref name=solomonislandsflooding>{{cite web|title=Flood and landslide hazard mapping, Solomon Islands|url=http://iahs.info/redbooks/a192/iahs_192_0138.pdf|publisher=[[International Association of Hydrological Sciences]]|access-date=March 27, 2013|author=Trustrum, N.A.|author2=Whitehouse, I.E.|author3=Blaschke, P.M.|author4=Stephens, P.R.|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806002202/http://iahs.info/redbooks/a192/iahs_192_0138.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Of the 25,000 "traditional" houses on the Solomon Island, 6,000 (26%) were destroyed.  Most of the fatalities were due to landslides and flooding. Property damaged totaled $25&nbsp;million (1986&nbsp;USD)<ref name=CSTCN>{{cite report|title=Case Study: Tropical cyclone Namu|url=http://rebekah1234.tripod.com/id8.html|publisher=Tropical Cyclones Tripod|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717103429/https://rebekah1234.tripod.com/id8.html|access-date=March 29, 2013| archive-date=July 17, 2011 }}</ref> and the storm also caused US&nbsp;$100&nbsp;million in economic losses in the Solomon Islands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Solomon Islands Country Environmental Analysis|url=http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Solomon_Islands/43.pdf|publisher=[[Asian Development Bank]]|access-date=March 27, 2013|author=Berdach, James T.|author2=Llegu, Michelle|page=40|date=December 2007|archive-date=June 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616180857/http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Solomon_Islands/43.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 18, [[Honiara]]'s Central Hospital authorities decided to evacuate several patients, as the hospital was located on a coastal strip that was vulnerable to river flooding and seawater inundation.<ref name="Impact"/>

===Aftermath===
During May 19, the Government of the Solomon Islands declared a state of national disaster and decided that the emergency period would run until May 31.<ref name="NDC Namu Dec Report" /><ref name="SREP1">{{cite report|type=UNDRO 86/1199|publisher=United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs|title=Cyclone Namu&nbsp;— Solomon Islands: UNDRO information report 1|date=May 21, 1986|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/solomon-islands/solomon-islands-cyclone-namu-may-1986-undro-situation-reports-1-8|access-date=September 27, 2015|website=Reliefweb|archive-date=October 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001072839/http://reliefweb.int/report/solomon-islands/solomon-islands-cyclone-namu-may-1986-undro-situation-reports-1-8|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, the government started to ask bilateral donors including Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations for assistance.<ref name="SREP1"/> However, before any foreign assistance could arrive in the Solomon Islands, residents started to try to help themselves by patching up water pipes with bamboo, string and rubber strips.<ref name="CSTCN"/> New Zealand subsequently donated an initial {{ntsp|1000000||NZ$}}, while the Australian High Commission subsequently donated an initial {{ntsp|1200000||AU$}} worth of relief supplies.<ref name="SREP1"/> This included two C-130 Hercules cargo planes from the [[Royal Australian Air Force]], a detachment party, relief supplies and two Iroquois helicopters.<ref name="Impact"/><ref name="SREP1"/><ref name="RAAF">{{cite web|title=Post cyclone aid to Solomon Islands |date=May 21, 1986 |access-date=September 26, 2015 |url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/HistoryRecord/HistoryRecordDetail.aspx?rid=641 |archive-date=September 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927185006/http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/HistoryRecord/HistoryRecordDetail.aspx?rid=641 |url-status=live |publisher=Royal Australian Air Force }}</ref> These aircraft arrived during May 21, when [[Honiara International Airport|Henderson Field Airport]] reopened for emergency operations, after flood waters had receded and the mud and debris had been removed.<ref name="Impact"/>

Within a week following the storm, access to fresh water was resorted to the archipelago; doctors believed that had these services not been restored, widespread disease would have been reported.<ref name=RFTMCV>{{cite news|title=Rescuers find two more cyclone victims|date=May 26, 1986|agency=United Press International}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> The government declared June 2 a national day of mourning for the victims of the storm.<ref name=SESIPMAFHFCV>{{cite news|title=Southeast Asia; Solomon Island&nbsp;s Prime Minister appeals for help for cyclone victims|newspaper=BBC News|date=May 29, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

The [[International Monetary Fund]] loaned $1.3&nbsp;million [[United States Dollar|USD]] to the nation.<ref name=imfloan>{{cite report|title=IMF Emergency Assistance Related to Natural Disasters and Postconflict Situations|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/albania/imf-emergency-assistance-related-natural-disasters-and-postconflict-situations|publisher=ReliefWeb|access-date=March 27, 2013|author=International Monetary Fund|date=September 5, 1999}}</ref> Australian relief planes had dropped food to 4,000&nbsp;victims in the highlands on the main island of Guadalcanal and New Zealand provided nearly {{convert|30,000|lbs|kg|abbr=on|round=5}} of rice, canned meat and tea to the devastated region. New Zealand engineers were brought in to assess damage to roads and bridges and start removal of {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|round=5}} high debris along the waterfronts of the island chain.<ref name=I>{{cite news|title=International|date=May 22, 1986|agency=United Press International}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> Also, $10,000 [[European Currency Unit|ECU]] was donated to the devastated island group.<ref name=EAFSI>{{cite news|title=Emergency Aid For Salamon Islands|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-86-235_en.htm|access-date=June 11, 2013|newspaper=Europa|date=May 23, 1986|archive-date=February 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206062441/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-86-235_en.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Other countries, including the [[United Kingdom]], [[Papua New Guinea]], the United States, and Japan also sent supplies and goods to the Solomon Islands.<ref name=solomonislandsflooding /> Overall, US$8.6&nbsp;million was provided to the Solomons <ref name=SRAFRAC>{{cite news|title=solomons receives foreign aid for rehabilitation after cyclone|date=July 21, 1986|agency=The Xinhua General Overseas News Service}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> and {{convert|71,000|lbs|kg|abbr=on|round=5}} worth of supplies were provided to victims of the cyclone.<ref name=ASUIAAOCNINSM>{{cite news|title=Australia steps up islands aid / Aftermath of Cyclone Namu in the Solomon Islands (145) /SCT|newspaper=The Times|date=May 24, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

During May 26, Henderson Field was reopened for commercial flights

Moreover, a commercial aircraft provided supplies to the 200&nbsp;inhabitants of Sikiana Island, which had run out of food a week after the storm.<ref name=CVRS>{{cite news|title=Cyclone victims receive supplies|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=May 22, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> In all, a total of 17 coastal trading vessels, four helicopters, and six aircraft were used to transport food, tents and medical supplies to the needy.<ref name=SCTN>{{cite news|title=Solomons cyclone toll 96|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=May 24, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> It was estimated that the homeless would require aid such as food for six months.<ref name=SODASCG>{{cite news|title=Namu's mud yields 71 dead as Solomons crisis grows|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=May 23, 1986}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

Elsewhere, in Honiara, the local ministry asked each resident to pay $50 so that the roofs that were damaged by the system could be repaired.<ref name=UH>{{cite book|title=Living Traditions: A Changing of Life in the Solomon Islands|year=1997|publisher=[[University of Hawaii]]|page=157|url={{googlebooks|id=lSsT9Cdam-gC|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref> The cleanup process took a long time; a year after the storm, bulldozers were reportedly still removing broken [[Trunk (botany)|logs]] and not all roads had been repaired.<ref name="CSTCN"/> Following the storm, disease spread to isolated part of the Solomon Island group; many animals died and hundreds of children were hospitalized because of the outbreak of disease.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disease spreading in cyclone-stricken islands|date=May 24, 1986|agency=United Press International}} {{subscription required|via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref>

=== Longer term aftermath ===
On June 4, the Government of the Solomon Islands lifted the emergency period, four weeks after the system had impacted the islands.<ref name="Impact"/> After the emergency period was lifted, outside assistance that had been brought in to assist with relief efforts were gradually withdrawn, including armed services from Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="Impact"/> However, external assistance from Australia and New Zealand amongst others, was still needed due to the Solomon Islands reliance on overseas aid in general.<ref name="Impact"/> As a result, a two-day meeting took place in Honiara during July, at which the Solomon Islands Government requested and was promised about {{ntsp|13500000}} for 20 rehabilitation programs.<ref name="13.5 Mill">{{cite news |title=Solomons promised $13.5m aid for Cyclone Namu damage |author=Cokley J |date=July 21, 1986 |agency=QNP |newspaper=Courier-Mail |via=Lexis Nexis}}</ref> Pledges of assistance were made by Australia, Britain, New Zealand, the European Economic Community and agencies of the United Nations and the United States of America.<ref name="13.5 Mill"/> These programs included projects to replace rural primary schools flattened by the cyclone, bridges and water supply systems swept away by Namu.<ref name="13.5 Mill"/>

During December 1986, the then Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir [[Peter Kenilorea]] resigned, after allegations surfaced that he had channelled aid from France for Cyclone Namu towards the rebuilding of his village. However, the allegation was never proven.<ref>{{cite news|title=Solomon Islands flash flood disaster – the politics of relief|publisher=Scoop|date=April 8, 2014|url=https://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2014/04/solomon-islands-flash-flood-disaster-the-politics-of-relief/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412103845/https://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2014/04/solomon-islands-flash-flood-disaster-the-politics-of-relief/|archivedate=April 12, 2014|url-status=live|author=Kabutaulaka, Tarcisius Tara}}</ref>



During March 1987, volunteers from the Australian Rotarians, commenced an eighteen-month project to build 93 schools in the Solomon Islands.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=A cyclone of activity|title=The Rotarian|date=March 1988|page=50|url={{googlebooks|id=9jUEAAAAMBAJ|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter=That Rotary pioneer spirit lives on Down Under|title=The Rotarian|date=March 1993|page=50|url={{googlebooks|id=QTIEAAAAMBAJ|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

Questions were raised during the systems aftermath over whether or not excessive [[deforestation]] worsened the impact of the flood. The government denied reports that deforestation had any link to the catastrophe.<ref name=PFAHORCACITSI>{{cite book|last=Bennett|first=Judith|title=Pacific Forest: A History of Resource Control and Contest in the Solomon Islands c, 1800-1997|year=2000|publisher=White Horse Press|page=311|url={{googlebooks|id=ummoM3g_sI0C|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

==Other areas==
On May 21, the FMS issued special weather bulletins for Vanuatu as Namu's projected track took it near or over the southern islands of the island nation; however, these were terminated later that day after Namu had rapidly weakened into a tropical depression.<ref name="Namu TCR" /> The system also caused heavy rainfall in New Caledonia, which caused various roads to be temporarily closed.<ref name="Met-Mar">{{cite magazine|trans-title=Through Cyclones and Tropical Storms: In the Southwest Pacific in 1985-1986|title=À travers cyclones et Tempêtes Tropicales: Dans le Pacifique Sud-Ouest en 1985-1986|pages=38–39|issue=137|language=fr|issn=0222-5123|journal=Météorologie Maritime|url=http://bibliotheque.meteo.fr/exl-php/docs/ILS_DOC/237151/doc00026971__PDF.txt|access-date=April 30, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806003242/http://bibliotheque.meteo.fr/exl-php/docs/ILS_DOC/237151/doc00026971__PDF.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[Cyclone Zoe]] - impacted the Solomon Islands as a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone.
*[[List of off-season South Pacific tropical cyclones]]
*[[List of wettest tropical cyclones]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{SPAC EL's}}
*[http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/1225164/devastation-by-cyclone Devastation by cyclone - ABC News]
*[http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/1225186/impacts-of-a-cyclone-days-or-decades- Impacts of a cyclone: days or decades? - ABC News]

{{Retired South Pacific cyclones}}
{{Off-season South Pacific tropical cyclones}}
{{Off-season Australian region tropical cyclones}}
{{Category 3 South Pacific severe tropical cyclones}}
{{Category 3 Australian region severe tropical cyclones}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1985–86 South Pacific cyclone season|Namu]]
[[Category:1985–86 Australian region cyclone season|Namu]]
[[Category:Category 3 South Pacific cyclones|Namu]]
[[Category:Off-season South Pacific tropical cyclones|Namu]]
[[Category:Retired South Pacific cyclones|Namu]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in the Solomon Islands|Namu]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 1986|Namu]]
[[Category:Off-season Australian region tropical cyclones]]