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Cyclone Pam bears down on Vanuatu Cyclone Pam bears down on Vanuatu
(about 1 hour later)
A red alert has been issued for northern parts of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu as Cyclone Pam, a category five tropical storm, nears.A red alert has been issued for northern parts of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu as Cyclone Pam, a category five tropical storm, nears.
Pam is already bringing winds of up to 185 km/h (115mph), said the Vanuatu Meteorological Services (VMS).Pam is already bringing winds of up to 185 km/h (115mph), said the Vanuatu Meteorological Services (VMS).
VMS forecast winds of up to 230km/h (142mph) as the cyclone ploughs along off the east coast on Friday.VMS forecast winds of up to 230km/h (142mph) as the cyclone ploughs along off the east coast on Friday.
Meanwhile category three Cyclone Olwyn has hit the coast of Western Australia, with wind gusts up to 195kph (120mph).Meanwhile category three Cyclone Olwyn has hit the coast of Western Australia, with wind gusts up to 195kph (120mph).
People in the WA coastal region have been warned to move to higher ground to escape dangerous flooding.People in the WA coastal region have been warned to move to higher ground to escape dangerous flooding.
'Ghost town''Ghost town'
VMS said "very destructive winds and very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy swells" were already hitting the region, while torrential rainfall, flash flooding, landslides and storm surges were expected.VMS said "very destructive winds and very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy swells" were already hitting the region, while torrential rainfall, flash flooding, landslides and storm surges were expected.
The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shefa provinces were all now under red alert, meaning they should immediately head to shelter.The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shefa provinces were all now under red alert, meaning they should immediately head to shelter.
The agency's acting director, Peter Korisa, told Radio New Zealand that about 1,000 people had been moved to safety in vulnerable areas, but that some more remote communities were difficult to make contact with.The agency's acting director, Peter Korisa, told Radio New Zealand that about 1,000 people had been moved to safety in vulnerable areas, but that some more remote communities were difficult to make contact with.
The capital, Port Vila, was expected to escape the worst of the cyclone but people were being advised to move away from rivers and the sea.The capital, Port Vila, was expected to escape the worst of the cyclone but people were being advised to move away from rivers and the sea.
An official with the UN's children's agency, Unicef, said the capital had become a ghost town as people took shelter. Alice Clements, an official with the UN's children's agency Unicef, told the BBC that the capital had become a ghost town as people took shelter.
"The winds have definitely increased, the palm trees are blowing around like crazy, you're starting to get that kind of howling wind coming through," Alice Clements told AFP news agency. "The winds have intensified and the skies have totally clouded over, you can't see the sea or the hills now. Foliage is thrashing around and the wind and rain has been torrential," she said.
"People are anxious, it's been a very long time since Vanuatu has seen a cyclone this big."
She said that the government has been putting out constant radio updates urging people to seek shelter in schools and churches, and put in place a telephone relay system to contact areas that have poor radio coverage.
The Vanuatu country director for Save the Children, Tom Skirrow, told AFP he was concerned about families living in shanty town areas.The Vanuatu country director for Save the Children, Tom Skirrow, told AFP he was concerned about families living in shanty town areas.
"Thousands of families are living in makeshift, flimsy houses which will not withstand the immense winds and rain we're expecting. Families need to urgently evacuate to safe buildings or the results could be catastrophic.""Thousands of families are living in makeshift, flimsy houses which will not withstand the immense winds and rain we're expecting. Families need to urgently evacuate to safe buildings or the results could be catastrophic."
Vanuatu is a poor island chain nation, with a population of about 246,000. Vanuatu is an island chain nation, with a population of about 246,000.