13 Mar 2015

Villagers in Vanuatu making final preparations

3:06 pm on 13 March 2015

Villagers in the outskirts of Vanuatu's capital are making final preparations for cyclone Pam, boarding up windows and putting extra nails into loose roofing and walling.

Our correspondent in Vila, Hilaire Bule is from Mele village outside the capital, he says authorities have been evacuating people from coastal settlements since yesterday.

Grey clouds as Cyclone Pam approaches Vanuatu

Grey clouds as Cyclone Pam approaches Vanuatu Photo: UNICEF Pacific

He says the Chief in his village has called for people in weak housing structures to move to the churches and school building.

"On the island of Efate we already faced gale force winds at about lunchtime to day and as you can hear in the background people are still ready to take precaution they have to double the security on their houses."