Tropical cyclone Pam battered the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on March 13 and 14. Cyclone’s wind gusts of more than 300 kmh tore through the country killing 11 people and leaving 3,300 people homeless.
Almost 90 percent of residential homes in the capital of Port Vila were ruined or flooded. In many regions of the country there are serious problems with power supplies and more than 10,000 people have been moved to evacuation centers in the capital.
Vanuatu, formerly known as the New Hebrides, is one of the world’s poorest nations. It is an archipelago of more than 80 islands with a population of about 260,000 people 2,000 kilometers northeast of Australia. The nation is located in a geologically active zone of the Pacific Ocean and suffers from frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.
Above: Local residents walk past debris as a wave breaks nearby in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: Local residents walk past debris as a wave breaks nearby in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
On Tuesday the official death toll of the disaster was revised down from 24 to 11 people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. However, many officials fear that the number will rise when they are able to thoroughly inspect the outer islands of the archipelago.
Above: Local residents look at damaged boats washed up into a small inlet in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: Local residents look at damaged boats washed up into a small inlet in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
At least 33,000 people were forced from their damaged or destroyed homes when the cyclone hit Vanuatu, as most houses are built with flimsy materials. Thousands of people took refuge in 37 evacuation centers. Aid officials said the storm was comparable in strength to Typhoon Haiyan which hit Philippines in November 2013 and left over 6,000 dead.
Above: A local resident moves debris from near his damaged home after Cyclone Pam hit Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: A local resident moves debris from near his damaged home after Cyclone Pam hit Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
The poor nation receives about 40 percent of income from tourism which has been badly affected by the disaster. Port Vila has been closed to cruise liners indefinitely.
Above: Local residents stand near a bridge damaged by Cyclone Pam near Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: Local residents stand near a bridge damaged by Cyclone Pam near Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Another important industry of Vanuatu’s economy is farming, but much of what was growing was swept away by the storm.
Above: A large tree uprooted by Cyclone Pam lies on a street near a prison in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: A large tree uprooted by Cyclone Pam lies on a street near a prison in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
There were worries about food scarcity and healthcare after the main local market was destroyed and the city’s hospital was badly damaged. Shops selling tinned food were open in the capital, but many locals do not have the money to buy them and were forced to search for fruits.
Above: Local residents look at damaged boats against a jetty in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: Local residents look at damaged boats against a jetty in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
In the capital thousands of people are staying in shelters overnight, with a 6 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew imposed to prevent looting.
Above: Cyclone Pam bears down on Vanuatu in this image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite.
Above: Cyclone Pam bears down on Vanuatu in this image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite.
The governments of Australia and New Zealand, the UN, the World Health Organization and Red Cross sent aid to Vanuatu. A French navy ship was also sent from nearby Caledonia, while a US Marine Corps-based Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief team was also made ready.
Above: Children run across muddy ground near their homes damaged by Cyclone Pam in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
Above: Children run across muddy ground near their homes damaged by Cyclone Pam in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu.
