'We will have to begin again' says Vanuatu president after 'monster' cyclone
An international relief effort is underway to help survivors of Friday night’s ‘monster’ cyclone which tore through the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu.
Australian and New Zealand military planes are leading the way loaded with water, medicines and temporary shelters.
The southern island of Tanna, about 200km south of the capital, Port Vila with its 29,000 inhabitants, took the full force of the category 5 storm. Early reports say it has been devastated.
Speaking in Japan where he had been attending a disaster conference, President Baldwin Lonsdale said that after cyclone Pam his country will have to start again.
“There is a breakdown of communications, we cannot reach our families and we do not know whether our families are safe or not. And as the leader of the nation, my whole heart is with the whole people of the nation.”
He also said he had not been able to confirm that his own family was safe.
Residents have begun trying to salvage what is left of their homes after
Australian and New Zealand military planes are leading the way loaded with water, medicines and temporary shelters.
The southern island of Tanna, about 200km south of the capital, Port Vila with its 29,000 inhabitants, took the full force of the category 5 storm. Early reports say it has been devastated.
Speaking in Japan where he had been attending a disaster conference, President Baldwin Lonsdale said that after cyclone Pam his country will have to start again.
“There is a breakdown of communications, we cannot reach our families and we do not know whether our families are safe or not. And as the leader of the nation, my whole heart is with the whole people of the nation.”
He also said he had not been able to confirm that his own family was safe.
Residents have begun trying to salvage what is left of their homes after
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