WELLNGTON, New Zealand — The small Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu on Thursday issued a red alert to its residents and urged them to take shelter as it braces for Cyclone Pam, which is expected to graze the islands with winds
WELLNGTON, New Zealand — The small Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu on Thursday issued a red alert to its residents and urged them to take shelter as it braces for Cyclone Pam, which is expected to graze the islands with winds of 115 miles per hour.
Authorities fear the category-5 cyclone will destroy homes as well as cause landslides and severe coastal flooding. The full impact is expected to be felt in the capital Port Vila late Thursday.
The cyclone has already destroyed homes and caused damage to other Pacific islands including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.
David Gibson, acting director of the Vanuatu meteorology and geo-hazards department, said Pam is packing maximum sustained winds of 143 mph at its center, which is expected to pass out to sea just east of the capital.
He said if the winds are as strong as his department predicts, they will cause severe damage to buildings.
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reported the winds there had destroyed several homes and a school classroom, and had also flooded crops.
Authorities as far away as New Zealand are preparing for possible impacts from the storm, which could reach that area early next week.
Located about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii, Vanuatu has a population of 267,000 spread over 65 islands.
