Monster Cyclone storm strengthens in Pacific, lashing Vanuatu
A deadly Pacific cyclone intensified as Vanuatu on Monday posed a threat of a natural disaster, prompting experts to fear that the weakened nation's fight to remain coronavirus-free would weaken.
The Meteorological Service of Vanuatu said that the tropical cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 people had died through Solomon Islands last week, turned into a massive overnight 5 Category 5 superstorm.
The cyclone is now packing winds at a speed of 235 kilometers per hour (145 mph), causing a red alert in many provinces.
It made landfall on the far eastern coast of the island of Espiritu Santo on Monday morning and was heading directly to Luganville, Vanuatu's second largest city, which has a population of 16,500.
A slow-moving storm is expected to pass north of the capital Port Villa in the early hours of Tuesday.
"We don't have any news of the injury right now, but a lot of damage has been done," Red Cross Vanuatu general secretary Jacqueline de Gilande told AFP.
Another concern is that a major natural disaster in Vanuatu may have an impact on efforts to remain one of the few countries in the world without a reported COVID-19 infection.
The nation has sealed its international borders to avoid the virus but emergency measures, including a ban on public meetings, have been temporarily suspended so that people can gather at evacuation centers.
There has been no confirmation of COVID-19 in Vanuatu, but a significant disaster could present serious challenges at the moment, said Elizabeth Ferris, director of Oxfam Vanuatu.
The last time the Category 5 system, Cyclone Palm, hit Vanuatu in 2015 required a major international relief effort.If a similar operation was required in the wake of Cyclone Harold, it would risk importing the virus into a nation that lacks the health infrastructure to deal with a mild outbreak.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised concerns about the cyclone and said that the Kiwi army is ready to deploy when needed, even if New Zealand is on COVID-19 lockdown.
"(Harold) looks like it's coming into the Pacific with a lot of force," he told reporters.
Our defense force is ready, they play a role regardless of what is going on in New Zealand.Cyclone Pam devastated Port Villa, killing 11 people and vowing destruction that the World Bank estimated about two-thirds of Vanuatu economic potential would end.
De Gillande said that Vanuatu's government could face a balance of action between helping communities devastated by the cyclone and potentially importing the virus into international aid.
"We will need international assistance, but we are hoping that initially it will only be through funds, so we can buy supplies and help those the most," he said.
We already have a lot of skilled people on the ground (to conduct our disaster operations).Cyclone Harold has already caused extensive damage in the Solomon Islands, where an inter-island ferry ignored weather warnings and 27 people were washed from its deck.
The Solomons Police said on Sunday that the bodies of five passengers had been recovered from MV Taimareho and the search would begin again the next day.
Chief Superintendent Richard Menapi said, I want to thank everyone. We are trying as far as possible to find the missing 27 people to try to find the dead bodies.
The set of ferry from Honiara to Malaita Island on Thursday night was packed with more than 700 people as part of a government evacuation program in response to the virus crisis.
A deadly Pacific cyclone intensified as Vanuatu on Monday posed a threat of a natural disaster, prompting experts to fear that the weakened nation's fight to remain coronavirus-free would weaken.
The Meteorological Service of Vanuatu said that the tropical cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 people had died through Solomon Islands last week, turned into a massive overnight 5 Category 5 superstorm.
The cyclone is now packing winds at a speed of 235 kilometers per hour (145 mph), causing a red alert in many provinces.
It made landfall on the far eastern coast of the island of Espiritu Santo on Monday morning and was heading directly to Luganville, Vanuatu's second largest city, which has a population of 16,500.
A slow-moving storm is expected to pass north of the capital Port Villa in the early hours of Tuesday.
"We don't have any news of the injury right now, but a lot of damage has been done," Red Cross Vanuatu general secretary Jacqueline de Gilande told AFP.
Another concern is that a major natural disaster in Vanuatu may have an impact on efforts to remain one of the few countries in the world without a reported COVID-19 infection.
The nation has sealed its international borders to avoid the virus but emergency measures, including a ban on public meetings, have been temporarily suspended so that people can gather at evacuation centers.
There has been no confirmation of COVID-19 in Vanuatu, but a significant disaster could present serious challenges at the moment, said Elizabeth Ferris, director of Oxfam Vanuatu.
The last time the Category 5 system, Cyclone Palm, hit Vanuatu in 2015 required a major international relief effort.If a similar operation was required in the wake of Cyclone Harold, it would risk importing the virus into a nation that lacks the health infrastructure to deal with a mild outbreak.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised concerns about the cyclone and said that the Kiwi army is ready to deploy when needed, even if New Zealand is on COVID-19 lockdown.
"(Harold) looks like it's coming into the Pacific with a lot of force," he told reporters.
Our defense force is ready, they play a role regardless of what is going on in New Zealand.Cyclone Pam devastated Port Villa, killing 11 people and vowing destruction that the World Bank estimated about two-thirds of Vanuatu economic potential would end.
De Gillande said that Vanuatu's government could face a balance of action between helping communities devastated by the cyclone and potentially importing the virus into international aid.
"We will need international assistance, but we are hoping that initially it will only be through funds, so we can buy supplies and help those the most," he said.
We already have a lot of skilled people on the ground (to conduct our disaster operations).Cyclone Harold has already caused extensive damage in the Solomon Islands, where an inter-island ferry ignored weather warnings and 27 people were washed from its deck.
The Solomons Police said on Sunday that the bodies of five passengers had been recovered from MV Taimareho and the search would begin again the next day.
Chief Superintendent Richard Menapi said, I want to thank everyone. We are trying as far as possible to find the missing 27 people to try to find the dead bodies.
The set of ferry from Honiara to Malaita Island on Thursday night was packed with more than 700 people as part of a government evacuation program in response to the virus crisis.
