Vanuatu has been under a state of emergency, after two earthquakes and two cyclones hit in as many days, reports ABC News.
Hundreds of people remained in emergency evacuation centres in the capital Port Vila as Tropical Cyclone Kevin brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall.
The Fiji Meteorology Service said wind gusts reached up to 230km an hour in the early morning hours on Saturday.
No casualties were immediately reported but a number of properties were flattened and many homes and businesses reported power outages, said ABC.
The cyclone built to a category four on Saturday as it passed the capital and travelled south-east.
Port Vila-based journalist Dan McGarry tweeted updates as both cyclones hit.
“Port Vila has properly woken up now. Fuel is in short supply, power is out everywhere, and a boil-water order is in effect,” he tweeted early on Saturday.
“Lots of people at the few hardware stores that were able to open. Some with rather disturbing stories.”
The country’s main newspaper, Vanuatu Daily Post, did not publish on Saturday due to the cyclone, but will publish a special edition tomorrow.
Journalist Witnol Benko has forwarded what might be the first images from the southern island of Erromango. Doesn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/c8SIA1jTL4
— Dan McGarry (@dailypostdan) March 5, 2023
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
