Vanuatu suffers storm’s fury
Cyclone Pam has made a direct hit on Vanuatu as a massive Category 5 storm with unconfirmed reports of deaths and destruction of homes.
‘‘The immediate concern is for a very high death toll but also an enormous amount of destruction and devastation,’’ Sune Gudnitz, head of the Pacific office at Unocha, the UN’s emergency relief arm, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from nearby Fiji, which is also bracing for the impact of Pam.
The Vanuatu capital of Port Vila may have been spared the absolute worst-case scenario, the Weather Channel reported, but the islands of Erromango, Tanna, and Aneityum were in line for a direct hit.
By this morning the cyclone was located directly over Erromango Island, population 1959, and was packing winds at its centre of 250kmh, the Vanuatu MetService reported. It was tracking southeast.
In New Zealand, Gisborne residents are being warned to stock food and water to last three days as authorities brace for the the cyclone that is expected to hit northern and eastern areas of the North Island from Monday.
Representatives from more than a dozen agencies, including Civil Defence, Gisborne District Council and emergency services, met yesterday to come up with a response plan for the major sea surges, rain and wind.
Freedom campers have been told to pack up and leave coastal areas, and people living or working next to the coast were advised to continue monitoring the weather reports and listening to Civil Defence advice.
In Vanuatu, those still with power and working internet shared stories of riding out the storm.
‘‘Just got a text from a friend an hour ago in Malapoa, his roof has gone is being flooded and is burying himself in the mud under the foundations to try and stay put," wrote Megan William on Facebook.
‘‘Folks, I’ll be honest. It’s really bad out there," wrote the administrator of the Humans of Vanuatu Facebook page.
‘‘The wind is howling with a deep roar that just doesn’t let up. Anyone not in shelter now is in mortal danger. Frankly, I don’t think our country will make it through this without some deep scars.’’
Vanuatu had urged residents to seek shelter as Cyclone Pam, one of the strongest seen in the region, threatens to bring destructive winds, rough seas and the potential for storm surges, flash floods and landslides.
The government has issued red alerts for the entire country.
Gudnitz said the government of Vanuatu had made emergency plans for more than 220,000 people - asking them to seek shelter in churches and schools.
About one sixth of the population live in the capital Port Vila, which suffered flooding and power cuts yesterday as the cyclone started to bear down on the town.
Gudnitz said there had been no reports of casualties or loss of life yet but OCHA said there were unconfirmed reports that 44 people had died in Penama province in the northeast.
The category 5 storm could destroy many homes in the poor island nation of 260,000 people as many were constructed with flimsy materials such as straw and corrugated metal, and were vulnerable to high winds and floods.
Their plantations are usually the first to be destroyed so this would have a major impact on their livelihoods.
Authorities and aid agencies were bracing for a huge cleanup and urgent medical needs as the storm passes.
Priorities would include ensuring drinking water was safe and that children could go to school, Unicef said.
Flash floods and strong winds have also hit Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, causing significant damage.