Devastating Tropical Cyclone Damages 90% of Housing in Vanuatu Capital

The Australian arm of the international organization Oxfam said that up to 90 percent of houses in the capital of Vanuatu has been badly damaged by tropical Cyclone Pam.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Up to 90 percent of houses in the capital of Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation, has been badly damaged by tropical Cyclone Pam, which tore through the archipelago on Friday, the Australian arm of the international organization Oxfam said Sunday.

Oxfam Country Director in Port Vila, Colin Collet van Rooyen said in a statement that "entire communities have been blown away" by the destructive storm.

At least six people have been confirmed dead, but the death toll can rise dramatically once outlying communities across the archipelago are reached, van Rooyen stressed.

The nation's population of over 260,000 is spread over 65 islands. The outer islands are home to 33,000 people and are considered to be extremely vulnerable.

Port Vila is known as the city most exposed to natural disasters in the world because it faces a combination of risks including earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding and tropical cyclones, according to Oxfam.

Tropical Cyclone Pam made a direct hit on Vanuatu's capital Port Vila on Friday. Winds reached 150 mph with gusts peaking at around 200 mph, causing damage to infrastructure, cutting power and leaving debris strewn across the capital.