The Vanuatu government has moved to clarify its official death toll from Cyclone Pam, saying it still stands at 11.
There have been reports of up to 16 passing away but the government says it's thankful no more than 11 people have died.
Prime Minister Joe Natuman had earlier announced ten people have died as a result of the cyclone.
Damage at the harbour in Port Vila, Vanuatu, after Cyclone Pam. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
But in a statement the government said the toll in Efate was in fact three, and not two as previously thought.
It says the National Disaster Management Office information gathering system has found three deaths in Efate or Port Vila, five on Tanna, two in Matasso and one in Lelepa.
There were also four deaths recorded by the Vila Central Hospital immediately after the cyclone, but these were not directly related to the event.
The goverment says credit for such a low death toll at this stage should be given to advanced warning systems through the Vanuatu Meteorology service and telecommunications companies should also be praised for sending warning alerts through their SMS systems.
