Aussies left stranded as Vanuatu destroyed by two cyclones in less than a week

Australian tourists have been left stranded in Vanuatu after the country was slammed by two severe tropical cyclones in three days.

Australian tourists have been left stranded in Vanuatu after the country was left devastated after two severe tropical cyclones flattened the country in just three days.

Tropical Cyclone Judy, a category four system, struck on Wednesday morning, forcing some residents to evacuate, bringing destructive winds of up to 200km/h, with the eye of the storm passing directly over capital Port Vila.

Cyclone Kevin's 165 km/h winds caused the roofs of many buildings in Port Vila, Vanuatu to blow away. Source: French Ambassador to Vanuatu Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer.

Cyclone Kevin, another category four system, wreaked further havoc after hitting the islands on Friday night, causing severe damage to infrastructure, telecommunications, and crops.

Cairns man, Jon Heathcot, whose flight back to Australia on Wednesday was cancelled due to the weather, said these cyclones were some of the worst he’s ever seen.

“We were meant to fly out Wednesday but all flights have been cancelled and had to stay for them both cyclone”, he said,

“I’m from Cairns that experiences cyclones but these two here were pretty scary,” he said

“Kevin seemed worse than Judy, the damage was worse from Kevin also.”

Cyclone Judy (bottom left) and cyclone Kevin (top right). Source: Fiji Meteorological Service

Melbourne tourist Giada Cirianni and her Mum Lara recalled the moment part of the roof of their resort blew away as they took cover during Cyclone Kevin.

“We had someone come to our room saying all the guests were to go the restaurant to seek shelter,” she said.

“Then the weather got worse and rain started to come into the restaurant, so they took us into like a backroom and we‘re just all in this one room together with all the other guests.

“And as soon as we get in there we hear a loud bang, and the roof of the restaurant’s balcony area was blown off, it blew right over the roof that we were under.

“Seven hours, we were in that room, and you could just hear the trees breaking the coconuts falling.”

Melbourne tourist Giada Cirianni and her mum Lara recalled the moment part of the roof of their resort blew away as they took cover during Cyclone Kevin. Source: Giada Cirianni.

Lara said she and her daughter feared for their lives as they waited for the storm to pass.

“We were terrified, I thought it was going to be the end,” she said.

“The noise was so loud, we couldn‘t hear each other, we were sitting close, very close and we couldn’t hear each other.

“It was terrifying, it was the worst night of our lives. I think I cried for a good five minutes, I couldn‘t stop because I felt like this is the end, it was terrible”.

Authorities said many areas are still without power, phone service and running water,

Some of the hardest hit regions also experienced major flooding and remain cut off due to large fallen debris.

Air Vanuatu announced all flights would remain suspended until further notice, with the country‘s major international airport sustaining water damage.

Some smaller aircraft at Vanuatu's Bauerfield airport were flipped and damaged by the destructive winds. Source: French Ambassador to Vanuatu Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer.

A state of emergency has been declared by the Vanuatu government, and will remain in place for six months.

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau told RNZ Pacific on Friday that officials were working to assess the damage.

“We are a resilient people. We will get through this,” he said.

Many locals harked back to category 5 cyclone Pam, which hit the country in 2015 leaving 70 per cent of the population homeless.

“To have experienced cyclone Pam in 2015 was the most terrifying night of my life. Despite having lived in Vanuatu all my life and having experienced many a cyclone in that time,” Port Vila resident Sarah Sands said.

“I never thought I would relive the memories, sensory experience, physically and emotional of that night again, until this week, two cyclones within 24 hours of each other.

“We lost the front side of our roof this time by 7pm. The pressure build up in the house was more intense than Pam but the unknowing, powerlessness exactly the same. The vegetation is shredded similarly and homes looking like popped sardine cans.”

Port Vila resident Sarah Sands lost the roof of her family home during Cyclone Kevin. Source: Supplied

Local teacher Vickie Seagoe said the fact that the storm passed during the night made the experience even more frightening.

“There were branches falling on the roof and something smashed against the shutters in the kitchen and not being able to go outside to see what it was, not knowing if your roof is going to come off was frightening,

“I actually prepared a suitcase, a solid suitcase, which wouldn’t get wet in case the worst happened.

“Losing power, losing internet, not being able to communicate with the world was terrible and horrifying, I really felt alone.”

The Australian Government has announced the deployment of a 12-person team and an initial assistance package including shelters and water purification supplies, to Vanuatu on a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft as soon as weather conditions improve.