Vanuatu struggled on Sunday to survey the death toll and damage caused by Cyclone Pam, which slammed into the South Pacific island nation early Saturday.
The storm's death toll is uncertain due to severe damage to Vanuatu's communications infrastructure, but early reports have pegged the number of dead anywhere from two to eight people; that number is expected to rise once power lines and phone circuits are restored.
Initial reports are grim. UNICEF New Zealand executive director Vivien Maidaborn said the devastation is widespread, and that the worst damage likely occurred on Vanuatu's outer islands, where Cyclone Pam hit hardest.
“While communications continue to be compromised with only one mobile tower operational in Port Vila, we have received estimates that 90% of homes in the capital have been damaged or destroyed," Maidaborn said in a statement. “While updates from elsewhere have yet to emerge, this doesn’t bode well for many homes further afield in Vanuatu, which tend to be built with natural and local materials, such as thatched and corrugated roofs that are vulnerable to strong winds and floods."
100,000+ people likely homeless, more than 90% of houses damaged in #PortVila alone & nearly every school destroyed #CyclonePam #Vanuatu— Oxfam Australia (@OxfamAustralia) March 15, 2015
Vanuatu's President Baldwin Lonsdale described the storm as a "monster," according to the BBC. The Category 5 storm packed sustained winds of 165 miles per hour, with higher gusts when it hit Vanuatu, with reports of entire villages being wiped out in remote areas. The country is currently in a state of emergency.
Relief supplies for Vanuatu have begun to arrive from Australia and New Zealand.
OxfamInVanuatu: welcome to aid flight I can see in the sky from Aus right now #CyclonePam pic.twitter.com/i13StOHOq7— colin (@Colincvr) March 15, 2015
Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands, about 1,000 miles east of Australia. The country has a population of approximately 252,000. Its capital, Port Vila, is home to around 50,000 people.
Port Vila sustained damage to much of its infrastructure, including a hospital and national broadcasting service. The capital's airport was also damaged by Cyclone Pam and closed to commercial flights until Monday, although airplanes carrying aid were reportedly able to land on Sunday.
There is particular concern for the younger population of the islands, who are said to be at risk in the storm's aftermath.
“Around 60,000 children in Vanuatu are affected,” said Isabelle Austin, UNICEF Pacific Deputy Representative. “We are particularly concerned about their health, nutrition, safety, schooling and recovery.”
Port Vila airport is closed following #TCPam, reports it may not be open until tomorrow night at the earliest. #9News pic.twitter.com/DrDkAnZvTy— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) March 14, 2015
Those seeking to donate to relief efforts can give money online to UNICEF, Oxfam Australia and the Australian Red Cross.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press