Vanuatu

The storm has brought days of heavy rain and destructive winds to several of Vanuatu's provinces but the Director of the National Disaster Management Office in Port Vila, Shadrack Welegtabit, says it’s not still safe to reach out to those communities in the north of the country.

“We heard about houses being destroyed but we are still trying to get a figure, how many houses are damaged, garden crops and other stuff like that,” Welegtabit told Pacific Beat.

“We are trying to establish communication to know the extent of the damage.”

The Daily Post reported that chief inspector Albert Nalpini will take the role.

Mr Nalpini's appointment was made after the Supreme Court ordered the Police Service Commission to send its recommendation to the Head of State.

The appointment was slow and Mr Nalpini had to challenge the Commission in court in order to have his recommendation sent to President Lonsdale.

The paper reported this was partly due to his recommendation having been made initially when the Commission was led by Api Jack Marikembo, who later lost the role.

The cyclone, with winds gusting up to 265 km/h close to its centre, is affecting Vanuatu's Torba, Sanma and Malampa provinces.

Disaster authorities in Vanuatu said people and supplies were standing by ready to be deployed to cyclone-hit areas as soon as possible.

RNZI reports the worst-hit Torres Islands, where houses have been toppled and food crops destroyed, continue to experience winds gusting over 200 km/h.

The director of the disaster management office, Shadrack Welegtabit, said continued stormy weather was hampering the response effort.

Organisational Development Coordinator Dickinson Tevi says the Red Cross has been attending briefings with the National Disaster Management Office.

Tevi says they have also notified all their branches in the Northern provinces.

During a staff briefing this morning, the Operation Task Force was presented with the strategy and plan to guide Red Cross in this preparatory stage. 

The Red Cross has prepositioned stock in each branch to support any emergency.

The cyclone which is a category 3 storm has been gradually increasing in intensity and could reach Category 4 status in the next 12-24 hours as it tracks south through the country. The Government has warned communities in the provinces of Torba and Penama to evacuate to safety as the cyclone is anticipated to bring winds of up to 185 Kmh.

Central and southern Vanuatu are also expected to be affected and the Director of the National Disaster Management Office, Shadrack Welegtabit, says authorities are not taking any chances.

Welegtabit said the National Operations Centre has been activated at the national and provincial levels.

Paramount Chief Maseiman and his community took the initiative to launch the siren system as well as Tsunami Information Boards and Tsunami Evacuation Signs in their village on 1st May 2017 to coincide with celebrations to commemorate the arrival of Christianity to the shores of Efate.

Maseiman likened the siren and signage to the “Saviour” in that the system will save his people in the event of a tsunami.

Vanuatu's weather authorities say the cyclone is located about 205 kilometres east northeast of Sola in the northernmost province of Torba.

It's moving in a west southwest direction at 29 kilometres an hour.

RNZI reports damaging gale force winds gusting up to 165 kilometres an hour are expected to affect the provinces of Torba, Penama and Sanma in the next 24 hours.

Heavy rainfall and flash and coastal flooding are also expected.

PNG’s captain Pauke Siaka (33 runs and 1 for 7) put in a player of the match performance to lead her team to their third victory.

For Vanuatu Judy Avok’s 47 was the highlight of their batting innings as they made 8 for 81 from their 20 overs.

Ravini Oa (2 for 10), Sibona Jimmy (2 for 13) and Kaia Arua (2 for 13) all picked up two wickets for PNG.

With two days of play to come, Samoa and PNG remain the teams to beat with the winner most likely to be decided in their final match on Thursday.

The minister said Tanna was a traditional island for vegetable growing because of its rich volcanic soil.

Mr Seremaiah said he wanted farmers on Tanna to focus on the local organic market first, so Vanuatu could stop importing potatoes, onions and carrots from Australia.

RNZI reports he told the farmers on Tanna that becoming self-sufficient in these sorts of vegetables is what self-reliance is all about.