Pam a category 5 cyclone struck the islands of Vanuatu on Friday and Saturday with winds of 300 kmph, thus calling for relief and rescue. Relief and rescue workers reached on Tuesday. It was earlier estimated that 24 people died but later on the figure was reduced to 11. There has been widespread devastation in the region, with huge shortage of food, drinking water, electricity and shelters. Around 3,300 people have been rendered homeless in the area.
The extent of devastation is so enormous that 90% of the homes have been destroyed in the capital city of Port Vila, Oxfam. A curfew has been imposed from 6 am to 6 pm in order to check looting. A joint relief aid of $ 8 million has been promised by England, Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, another cyclone Nathan is making a comeback to Australia. Last week cyclone Nathan struck northern Queensland and moved eastwards towards the Coral Sea. The cyclone formed eight days ago in the Coral Sea. Currently, the cyclone is situated at 15°S, 150°E with wind speed of 90 kmph. Suddenly, cyclone Nathan has taken a U-turn and is moving southwestwards at a speed of 4 Kmph towards northern Queensland and the town of Cairns. As per BoM, Australia, cyclone Nathan is presently a category 2 cyclone but there could be rapid intensification of the system and the cyclone may become a category 4 cyclone before making landfall.
picture courtesy www.abc.net.au
