'Complete devastation': Cyclone Pam overpowers small Pacific island

A huge tropical cyclone smashed into Vanuatu in the South Pacific, terrifying residents and leaving “complete devastation” with fears Saturday that dozens of people may have died. UNICEF New Zealand said Saturday Super Tropical Cyclone Pam could be one of the worst weather disasters for the Pacific. The full extent of the damage is unknown, with limited communications in place after maximum category five storm Cyclone Pam slammed directly into the island country with winds up to 200 mph overnight. The UN had unconfirmed reports of 44 people killed in one province.

We could see some loss of life, potentially serious loss but we don’t know yet. The feedback is that there appears to be quite widespread devastation. There is debris in the streets and widespread flooding.

Sune Gudnitz, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Pacific

UNICEF spokeswoman Alice Clements described the cyclone, as “15-30 minutes of absolute terror” for “everybody in this country” as it passed over. The storm crossed the main Vanuatu island, home to more than 65,000, and a group of islands further south where 33,000 people live. Red Cross Pacific regional head Aurelia Balpe told AFP that islanders packed into caves and other makeshift shelters as they resorted to “traditional coping strategies.” The Australian Bureau of Meteorology, which has been monitoring the storm, said most parts of Vanuatu had been affected. The storm reportedly changed course at the last minute, passing closer to Port Vila than expected.

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.

Tom Skirrow of the Save the Children NGO

World vanuatu