CYCLONE PAM DEVASTATED VANUATU.
If you follow the news, you’ve seen pictures of the devastation left behind in Vanuatu by Cyclone Pam, a category 5 cyclone that hit the small island nation on Saturday. It was a monster cyclone. Wind gusts of up to 190 mph were recorded, and they left severe damage to homes, crops and infrastructure. It’s estimated that ninety percent of the houses and infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.
When we lived in Vanuatu in 1990-93, we knew the country was vulnerable to natural disasters. We experienced a couple of minor cyclones and a handful of medium-sized earthquakes. But no one expected a monster cyclone like this.
SOME NI-VANUATU FORCED TO DRINK SALT WATER.
Vanuatu’s population of 258, 000 is spread over 60 islands, most of which have no airport or deep-water port, so it’s hard to reach the people who live there with relief supplies. Due to a lack of fresh water, according to the BBC some people have been forced to drink salt water.
BEFORE THE STORM
Today I’d like to share with you a few pictures from my photo album so you can see how beautiful Vanuatu was, and will be again.
Perfect weather, clean air, sparkling clear water, and white coral sand beaches. This is me on Hideaway Island during an afternoon of snorkeling, lunch and hanging out.
Another day at the beach, a day trip on the Coongoola.
The house we rented in Port Vila had a good view of two lagoons.
Lunch with by husband, Eugene. I don’t think this house blew down. But it may have lost its roof.
Papaya trees grow fast in Vanuatu, bearing fruit after maybe seven months. Since the trunks are easily broken, this cyclone must have broken many papaya trees. Even though they’re fast growing, seven months is a long time to wait for a food the ni-Vanautu depend on.
Come back on Sunday for another look at Vanuatu before the storm.
It’s tragic, isn’t it, Nicki? I hadn’t even heard of this lovely place. It was just a dot in the ocean to me, along with many other such idyllic spots. You’d think these people were born lucky to have lived their lives there. What a huge task to get life back to ‘normal’.
Thank you for sharing your photos of Vanuatu. What a lovely, restive place. So sad to see the devastation. I’m certain, with time and support from the world, the strength of the people, like the strength and persistence of those papaya trees will return the islands to their former lushness.
Thanks for sharing the photos. I look forward to more of them!
I wish I had more photos. I didn’t bother much with a camera in those days.
Lovely photos, Nicki! I visited Vanuatu so long ago it was still called the New Hebrides (!) and it was beautiful then, too. It will be again — but the path back will not be easy
You must have visited Vanuatu (New Hebrides) before 1980, Paula.
Yes, I did — it was 1973 (goodness, that’s a thought to conjure with) …
By the way, the papaya looked so cute! They are so “round”!
Our papayas are very long, usually longer than 12 inches if they are let ripe on the trees.
These round papayas aren’t the typical ones. Eugene got seeds from somebody. I think these are Hawaiian papayas.
Wow, Nicki! You’ve been to everywhere!
No, Hari. Not everywhere. But Vanuatu was a surprising out-of-the-way spot. I’d never heard of it until a year or so before we moved there.
I have been hoping that you would post some information about this tiny nation. The news sounds so sad. It does look beautiful. You were lucky to have lived in paradise for a while.
“Paradise” is exactly what everyone used to call it, Kate. I really enjoyed my time there.
Your photos help deal with the devastation I’ve heard and seen on the news. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos from a better time, Nicki.
The pictures on the news look so ugly. I thought people should see a bit of how lovely Vanuatu was–and will be.
Oh, wow, NIcki, this makes it all so much more real to me knowing you were there. How awful for all especially this lack of potable water. The photos are beautiful and I would love to learn from you about this country.
I feel the same, Barbara. Far off places seem more real when I know someone who has lived there. I hope the aid agencies will be able to get food and water to people quickly.
Vanuatu is such a beautiful country, but I read recently that according to a global risk analysis study, out of 1300 world cities, Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, is the most vulnerable to natural disasters. So sad!!!
Lovely photos.
How sad the news stories are!!!