Cyclone Harold Emergency Response Kits (Rotary New Zealand ERKs)
Tropical cyclone Harold hits Vanuatu amid Coronavirus state of emergency.
Vanuatu has been hit by one of the strongest recorded storms to ever make landfall on the tiny Pacific nation, forcing the government to suspend coronavirus social distancing measures for evacuees.
Tropical cyclone Harold hits Vanuatu amid Coronavirus state of emergency.
Vanuatu has been hit by one of the strongest recorded storms to ever make landfall on the tiny Pacific nation, forcing the government to suspend coronavirus social distancing measures for evacuees.
Tropical Cyclone Harold packed winds of up to 250 kilometres per hour and was approaching the strength of a Category 5 hurricane, making it the strongest storm to hit Vanuatu in five years and the strongest one ever to make landfall on the nation's largest island, Espiritu Santo.
The cyclone hit Espiritu Santo on Monday then moved southeast over the island of Pentecost hours later. Harold strengthened even further during the day, with winds increasing up to 270 kph and gusts peaking over 300 kph. Days before, the storm swept through the Solomon Islands, where a boat was hit by heavy seas associated with the cyclone.
Bodies of six of the 27 people missing in the incident have been recovered, according to a statement Monday from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. The deadly Pacific storm Cyclone Harold then slammed into Fiji, tearing off roofs and flooding towns as it caused mass devastation across the country.
Despite being downgraded from a scale-topping Category Five to Four, the weather service warned Harold remained 'extremely dangerous' as it barrels eastward, threatening further damage in Tonga on Thursday.
Rotary is ready to respond immediately with pre-positioned Emergency Response Kits.
Rotary is ready to respond immediately with pre-positioned Emergency Response Kits.
Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) is the only Rotary New Zealand Humanitarian service activity responding to disasters in the Pacific. ERKs also supports in-country economies with many of the items being manufactured in the Pacific.
ERKs is recognised by Governments throughout the Pacific who waive import duties and taxes, with local partners taking responsibility for distribution in consultation with Disaster Management Offices. Consistently ERKs are the first tangible support families receive after a disaster. Throughout the Pacific, communities are ever grateful for the support New Zealanders give in times of disaster.