700 missing after cyclone

A CYCLONE that devastated remote South Pacific islands five days ago washed away at least two villages and there was no word on the fate of about 700 people who lived there, local officials said yesterday.

There has been no contact with the Solomon Islands chain since Cyclone Zoe pounded the area on Sunday. Radio links are down, there are no airstrips on the islands and no ship has reached there yet.

An Australian aid crew that flew over the cyclone-hit area on Wednesday had said the islands were badly damaged but saw many residents working as normal.