This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/cyclone-pam-huge-storm-heading-for-tiny-south-pacific-island-of-vanuatu-10106257.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cyclone Pam: Huge storm heading for tiny South Pacific island of Vanuatu Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu in panic over 'once-in-a-lifetime' storm bearing down on South Pacific island
(about 4 hours later)
A 'once-in-a-lifetime' storm is expected to bear down on the tiny South Pacific island of Vanuatu, putting the population of 260,000 at risk.A 'once-in-a-lifetime' storm is expected to bear down on the tiny South Pacific island of Vanuatu, putting the population of 260,000 at risk.
Cyclone Pam was due to hit the island's capital, Port Vila, at around 11pm Friday (12 noon GMT).Cyclone Pam was due to hit the island's capital, Port Vila, at around 11pm Friday (12 noon GMT).
The anticipated category five storm, with predicted wind gusts of more than 280km/h, prompted evacuations across the country as aid agencies warned of torrential rain, landslides and flash flooding.The anticipated category five storm, with predicted wind gusts of more than 280km/h, prompted evacuations across the country as aid agencies warned of torrential rain, landslides and flash flooding.
Cyclone Pam has already hit Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, causing significant damage.Cyclone Pam has already hit Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, causing significant damage.
According to The Guardian, local sources reported that "panic" was setting in ahead of the extreme weather, with hotels ordering guests into underground bunkers, and 12 evacuation centres swiftly filling up.According to The Guardian, local sources reported that "panic" was setting in ahead of the extreme weather, with hotels ordering guests into underground bunkers, and 12 evacuation centres swiftly filling up.
Unicef, which has aid workers and supplies on the ground in Vanuatu, warned that 260,000 people were in the middle of the potential disaster zone as the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office announced a red alert in the major northern provinces. It urged residents to seek immediate shelter.Unicef, which has aid workers and supplies on the ground in Vanuatu, warned that 260,000 people were in the middle of the potential disaster zone as the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office announced a red alert in the major northern provinces. It urged residents to seek immediate shelter.
Cyclone Pam intensified to a maximum category five storm off Vanuatu on March 13  Cyclone Pam intensified to a maximum category five storm off Vanuatu on March 13  
Care Vanuatu’s program manager Charlie Damon told the newspaper that one of her colleagues had helped 195 people into evacuation centres alone, including three people with disabilities.Care Vanuatu’s program manager Charlie Damon told the newspaper that one of her colleagues had helped 195 people into evacuation centres alone, including three people with disabilities.
“He did say there was a bit of panic in the centre,"she said. "They’re nervous, particularly with the noise because there’s more rubbish flying around [in Port Vila]. On the other islands it’s tree branches and coconuts."“He did say there was a bit of panic in the centre,"she said. "They’re nervous, particularly with the noise because there’s more rubbish flying around [in Port Vila]. On the other islands it’s tree branches and coconuts."
She said that the teams had made sure of access to water, employed young people to cook and cut down surrounding trees and had designated single-sex toilets "for the protection of women and children".She said that the teams had made sure of access to water, employed young people to cook and cut down surrounding trees and had designated single-sex toilets "for the protection of women and children".
Unicef’s Pacific spokeswoman, Alice Clements, said that the cyclone could create large storm surges which “behave pretty much like a tsunami”, TVNZ reported.Unicef’s Pacific spokeswoman, Alice Clements, said that the cyclone could create large storm surges which “behave pretty much like a tsunami”, TVNZ reported.
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has produced a track map of the region near Vanuatu with the expected path of Cyclone PamUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has produced a track map of the region near Vanuatu with the expected path of Cyclone Pam
She said that conditions were getting "wilder by the minute" in Port Vila and warned that houses on the country's outer islands, which are traditionally made of light timber with thatched roofs, were unlikely to stand up to the storm.She said that conditions were getting "wilder by the minute" in Port Vila and warned that houses on the country's outer islands, which are traditionally made of light timber with thatched roofs, were unlikely to stand up to the storm.
Vanuatu Meteorological Service’s acting director, David Gibson, told The Guardian that Pam would be the most powerful storm ever to bear down on Vanuatu.Vanuatu Meteorological Service’s acting director, David Gibson, told The Guardian that Pam would be the most powerful storm ever to bear down on Vanuatu.
“As far as I can remember, this is the first [category five] cyclone to come very close to Vanuatu,” he said. “This is obviously a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us.”“As far as I can remember, this is the first [category five] cyclone to come very close to Vanuatu,” he said. “This is obviously a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us.”