Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Cyclone Pam Flattens Vanuatu: Rescue Teams Report Devastation; Official Death Toll Lowered

Rescue teams and relief workers made their way to Vanuatu's outer islands Tuesday after struggling to reach the devastated archipelago's worst-hit areas. 
Aid from Australia and New Zealand is welcomed as Vanuatu's residents say they're running out of vital supplies.
"We are running short of food, water, shelter and electricity," resident Ropate Vuso told Reuters. 
This weekend, cyclone Pam lashed Vanuatu and caused widespread damage. With communications down and the islands in a scramble, officials were unable to gather accurate information. 
A death count from the U.N. was lowered to 11 from 24 Tuesday after officials realized they counted someone people twice, the Associated Press reports. 
At least 3,300 people in Vanuatu were left homeless Monday as aid began to arrive from nearby Australia and New Zealand, the U.N. confirmed. 
In Vanuatu's capital Port Vila, Oxfam Australia says that up to 90% of housing has been damaged, including vital supplies of food and water.





View image on Twitter
utter devastation in Port vila

No comments:

Post a Comment