Earlier this week, it was rumoured that the microblogging site had acquired Periscope for around $100 million.

Valparaiso is still recovering from a forest fire last April that killed 15 people, injured more than 500 and destroyed nearly 3,000 homes.

Iran and the six powers resume talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, next week, in search of an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear activities.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology, which has been monitoring the storm, said most parts of Vanuatu had been affected.

The operation appeared to have stalled for the time being, two days after Iraqi security forces and their mainly Shi'ite militia allies pushed into Tikrit.