Late last week and into the weekend, a powerful cyclone, Cyclone Pam, slammed into the island chain of Vanuatu. This was one of the more powerful cyclones anywhere in the world within the past year, and it brought significant winds, surge and damage to the island.
What was once a green forrest, stripped bare by #CyclonePAM on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu (picture via Lev Uma) pic.twitter.com/n3dhGH1axl
— 28storms.com (@28storms) March 16, 2015
Map of estimated sustained winds from #CyclonePAM. Strongest winds were just east of Port Vila, Vanuatu pic.twitter.com/Oyjn2TQNhF
— 28storms.com (@28storms) March 16, 2015
Mele Bay, Efate #CyclonePAM (via Daniel Parker) pic.twitter.com/hM1UFQ6BVe
— 28storms.com (@28storms) March 15, 2015
The storm struck with winds, “up to 185 mph, [striking] populated areas when it reached Vanuatu” on Saturday (BBC). Even though the cyclone was destructive, it was still a super cool look from space:
VIIRS image from 02z of core of the tropical cyclone & latest satellite intensity estimate of #Pam in S Pacific pic.twitter.com/4A1FDoStCo
— Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) March 13, 2015
Western eyewall of CAT 5 #CyclonePAM battering Epi. Efate (Port Vila) is up next. pic.twitter.com/vDaEHNzncz
— 28storms.com (@28storms) March 13, 2015
This cyclone will likely end up being one of the worst that has hit the island chain in its history, and the relief effort is already underway. For more, check out the full BBC article here.