VANUATU – The Vanuatu Government has declared a State of Emergency in Shefa province and is expecting to announce a national state of emergency following the destruction of Cyclone Pam.

Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu said he had never seen as much destruction in the country.

He said it could be the worst cyclone to ever hit Vanuatu.

“We’ve only declared a state of emergency in Shefa province because that’s where the government is located.

“With the other provinces, because we have no connection at all, we want to get some level of assistance first before a declaration is made.

“I’m 100 percent sure this will be a national state of emergency.”

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VANUATU – The death toll in Vanuatu is understood to be eight and 20 injured, but those numbers are almost certain to rise as rescuers reach outlying islands.

The full force of the category five storm hit Tanna Island on Saturday night, but at that stage the extent of damage on the island of some 29,000 people was unclear.

The head of the Red Cross regional office in Suva, Aurelia Balpe, said a Red Cross worker had made it to Tanna and witnessed an island in ruins.

“What they saw was lots of debris, the foliage was completely destroyed, lots of uprooted trees. All corrugated iron structures destroyed, concrete structures, all of them without roofs. And, of course, with all the debris we are very worried about the potential injuries that people may have suffered.”

The worker reported two deaths, yet to be be confirmed by Vanuatu’s government.

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VANUATU – Police in Vanuatu have deemed some areas in Port Vila off limits in a bid to stop any attempts at looting.

The acting commissioner, Colonel Job Esau says while there haven’t been any serious instances of looting in Port Vila since tropical cyclone Pam struck on Friday, police aren’t taking precautions.

Colonel Esau says police have set specific times for when people can’t move around specific premises, such as shopping areas and the waterfront, to make sure people don’t take advantage of the damage.

“Facilities, installations, private sectors, and also from the yachts that have been washed away by the cyclone. Those are the only areas we have been targeting at the moment, and also some other very affected locations in and around Port Vila.”

Government offices and other infrastructure have been destroyed, along with part of the main Vila Central Hospital.

Esau also says all police officers have been recalled from leave in preparation for what will be a massive operation.

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VANUATU – Air Vanuatu is to resume flights to the Vanuatu capital today, providing special back-to-back flights between Australia and Port Vila. The flights will carry aid supplies and move returning tourists from Vanuatu.

Air Vanuatu had suspended flights ahead of Tropical Cyclone Pam which caused damage to Port Vila’s Bauerfield International, with the runway flooded and the terminal and control tower sustaining structural damage. But an Air Vanuatu spokesperson Tiffany Carroll says the airport is ready to receive flights again.

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VANUATU – Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced US$3.82 million in initial aid for agencies working in Vanuatu in the wake of Cyclone Pam.

Bishop says Australia’s initial package of assistance includes funding for NGOs, including the Red Cross and UN agencies as well as relief supplies for up to 5000 people including water, sanitation and shelter kits. Australia is also sending a medical team, an urban search and rescue team and a disaster expert.

A New Zealand air force Hercules plane departed this morning on a second flight to Vanuatu carrying immediate relief supplies.

An Air Force Orion has also conducted an assessment flight over Tuvalu, which also sustained serious damage from Cyclone Pam.

New Zealand has offered NZ$2.5 million in initial aid, while Britain has offered up to $3.86 million in assistance.

President Francois Hollande also said France would respond to requests for assistance.

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VANUATU – As relief workers make their way to remote areas of Vanuatu, people from the cyclone-ravaged nation who live in New Zealand are anxiously awaiting news of their families.

Ni-Vanuatu Leina Isno said her parents, two sisters and two-month-old niece lived in the country’s second largest island, Malekula. It was “very disheartening and unsettling” to not have contact with them, she said.

“My father has been through many storms and is usually very prepared; however, this is a category five. Just seeing pictures on the net and not being able to talk to people back at home is actually quite devastating.”

She believed her family was okay, and had taken shelter somewhere in the village.

Isno, the secretary of the Vanuatu Community in Wellington, called a meeting at the University of Victoria to bring members together.

She said there were about 50 Ni-Vanuatu living in Wellington many of whom were going through the same agonising wait as her.

Eleimaka Woodfield, who was at the meeting, said she didn’t immediately hear from her family.

Her sister had been reported missing, and she feared the worst. But through her daughter, she’s since learned her family was okay.

But not all was good news, as her childhood home had been completely destroyed by the cyclone, she said.

“I’m very worried about them, how they are going and the kids,” she said.

“I’m vulnerable. I can’t even help them from over here, but my prayers are with them.”

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