There reports of two children drowning in a flooded river in South Santo, Vanuatu.
According to Vanuatu Red Cross, their Sanma Red Cross branch member Gloria Tarileo conveyed reports of the incident that she received from the aunty and relatives of Jade, aged 7 and his sister Christella, aged 6.
Tarileo said the children’s mother Veto was picking them up from school after lunch last Friday and they were rushing home to Nasara Village at Area 2 in South Santo.
On the way, they had to cross the Navaka River which was already flowing at high speed due to the heavy rainfall caused by Tropical Cyclone Hola.
As they waded across the river the mother suddenly lost grip of her children's hands. She realized if she tried to go after them they would all drown.
She continued crossing the river and informed the people to help search for the two children.
Later that afternoon they found Christella at some distance down the river but she was already dead. She had serious injuries on her head.
A search party was unable to find Jade.
Photo source Vanuatu Red Cross. Caption: Sanma Red Cross branch member Gloria Tarileo