Tropical Cyclone Pam kills at least 8 in Vanuatu

At least eight people in Vanuatu were confirmed killed by Tropical Cyclone Pam as disaster relief authorities and aid agencies continued their search and rescue operations, an aid agency official said Sunday.

Aurelia Balpe, Fiji-based head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Pacific, confirmed the latest casualty figure to Xinhua, citing field reports from the Vanuatu Red Cross and local authorities, which said the death toll is likely to rise.

There are reports on dozens of deaths in Vanuatu's Penama Province, where the cyclone made its landfall and whole villages are reportedly to have been blown away, but the country's National Disaster Management Office could not immediately confirm those reports as communication with northern provinces remained down.

Tropical Cyclone Pam, category 5, was believed to have generated gusts of up to 330 kilometers per hour, and the gales extended some 380 kilometers from the storm center.

After Tropical Cyclone Pam passed Port Vila, Vanuatu's capital where some 40,000 people live, downed power lines, uprooted trees and blown roofs were scattered on the streets.

In Port Vila, homes, government buildings and some other infrastructure were damaged by the cyclone, rescuers said. Endi