​Dozens feared dead in Vanuatu after cyclone Pam leaves trail of destruction

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Dozens feared dead in Vanuatu after cyclone Pam leaves trail of destruction

President calls for global help as aid workers tell of fierce impact and Australia and New Zealand prepare to mount relief efforts

Chris Johnston and agencies
Saturday 14 March 2015 12.05 EDT Last modified on Saturday 14 March 2015 13.11 EDT

Dozens of people are feared to have died after an extremely powerful cyclone struck Vanuatu on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction. At least eight were said to have been killed by the storm that passed directly over the Pacific island nation, but unconfirmed UN reports said 44 had died in one province alone.

The number of dead could rise further as reports come in from outlying areas cut off by communications failures. Vanuatu has a population of about 267,000 people spread over 83 islands, with about 47,000 people living in Port Vila.

Save the Children?s country director, Tom Skirrow, said: ?The scene here this morning is complete devastation: houses are destroyed, trees are down, roads are blocked and people are wandering the streets looking for help.?

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...pam-crosses-vanuatu-and-heads-for-new-zealand

 

[Emily]

https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/03/15/emergency-teams-fly-into-vanuatu.html

Australia will provide a 'life-saving' package of $5 million and humanitarian supplies to help cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu. - See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-...ms-fly-into-vanuatu.html#sthash.DmFssWUz.dpuf

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[Emily]

17 March 2015 Last updated at 11:23 ET
[h=1]Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu islanders forced to drink saltwater[/h] People living on a remote island in the north-west of Vanuatu are having to drink harmful saltwater following last week's cyclone, the BBC has discovered.
Residents of Moso say they are still waiting for outside help to arrive.
Aid agencies have begun trying to access the country's small outer islands, but flooding has stopped their planes from landing in some areas.
One pilot said the lush landscape had been transformed and now looked as if it had been destroyed by a bush fire...

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31917913​