New Hebrides Cyclone Damage

The New Hebrides had not re covered from the heavy losses in flicted by cyclone “Carlotta” in January when another furious on slaught arrived by courtesy of cyclone “Wendy” in February. Four people died in the cyclone—one, a girl aged 18 being hit by a falling tree and the other three were engulfed in a landslide on the west coast of Santo.

Worst hit was the Banks Group where Motalava, Ureparapara and Mota were completely devastated and other islands suffered damage of disaster proportions. On Motalava 290 of the 309 houses were destroyed, and on Mota only 13 houses were left out of 143. The entire village of Avar on Motalava was swept away by a tidal wave and the people lost every thing—houses, belongings, even their tools and a truck.

The joint administration was plan ning to spend $lOO,OOO on general relief work following the two cyclones, the money going simply on food, housing and equipment in the areas where the people had lost almost everything. More money was released for the repair of public buildings and schools, but an esti mate of the cumulative losses caused by the two cyclones, including lost production over ensuing months, is not less than $5 million.