Twin cyclones bear down on South Pacific islands

SYDNEY - Two tropical cyclones are bearing down on three South Pacific island nations creating a "critically dangerous situation", Australian disaster officials said on Tuesday.

Cyclone Olaf, heading towards Samoa and American Samoa, is forecast to intensify to a top category 5 storm by the time it reaches the islands in 12 to 36 hours, said the Australian-Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information.

Olaf could hit the islands with destructive winds gusting to 217km/h, huge seas and possible flooding from heavy rain, said the centre on its website (see link below).

Cyclone Nancy is forecast to reach a category 4 storm in the next 24 hours as it heads towards the Cook Islands, already battered by Cyclone Meena on February 7.

"This is a critically dangerous situation for Samoa, American Samoa and the southern Cooks," the centre said.

It said tropical cyclone warnings and watches had been issued for a total of seven island nations as the two storms track southeast across the South Pacific.

- REUTERS