Free Republic

A tropical cyclone killed at least six people in Vanuatu, UNICEF said Saturday, confirming first casualties from one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall. Hardly a tree stood straight after Tropical Cyclone Pam bellowed across the Pacific island nation. Aid workers fear many more fatalities. The confirmed deaths came only from the capital, Port Vila. Only a little information has so far trickled out from areas outside the capital, but Sune Gudnitz, regional head for U.N. aid agency OCHA told CNN from Fiji, about 600 miles away, that he fears the worst.

The President of Vanuatu, Baldwin Lonsdale, described Cyclone Pam as "a monster" Vanuatu's president has told the BBC many of his people are homeless after the "monster" cyclone that ravaged the Pacific island nation on Saturday. His voice breaking, Baldwin Lonsdale said Cyclone Pam had destroyed most buildings in the capital Port Vila, including schools and clinics. A state of emergency has been declared in the tiny state of 267,000 people, spread over 65 islands. At least eight people are reported to have been killed. However, it is feared the toll will rise sharply as rescuers reach outlying islands...