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A TERRIFYING TROPICAL cyclone which smashed into Vanuatu in the South Pacific HAS left “complete devastation”, with fears that dozens may have died in what may be one of the region’s worst weather disasters.
The full extent of the damage is unknown, with limited communications in place after Super Cyclone Pam, a maximum category five storm, slammed directly into the island country late Friday with gusts up to 320 kilometres an hour.
The UN had unconfirmed reports of 44 people killed in one province.
“While it is too early to say for certain, early reports are indicating that this weather disaster could potentially be one of the worst in Pacific history,” UNICEF New Zealand’s executive director Vivien Maidaborn said in a statement.
The sheer force of the storm combined with communities just not set up to withstand it, could have devastating results for thousands across the region.
Reports are emerging that as many as eight people are confirmed dead.
Residents of the capital Port Vila spent the night bunkering down as the terrifying storm raged, waking to find trees had been uprooted, homes destroyed and areas flooded.
“The scene here this morning is complete devastation — houses are destroyed, trees are down, roads are blocked and people are wandering the streets looking for help,” said Save the Children’s Tom Skirrow, speaking from Port Vila.
“We could see some loss of life, potentially serious loss but we don’t know yet,” Sune Gudnitz, who heads the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Pacific, told AFP.
The feedback is that there appears to be quite widespread devastation. There is debris in the streets and widespread flooding.
UNICEF spokeswoman Alice Clements described the cyclone as “15-30 minutes of absolute terror” for “everybody in this country” as it passed over.
“We have some very unconfirmed reports of casualties from the outer islands as well but we’re waiting to get official confirmation on those, which is very sad news if it’s true,” she told Radio New Zealand.
Added Care International’s Charlie Damon: “Homes have been blown to pieces, and even evacuation shelters, where people had sought refuge, have been flooded and left exposed to Cyclone Pam.
If this is the level of impact in communities where emergency shelters were an option, we are deeply concerned about what has happened in remote communities without them.
Fiji Weather Service meteorologist Neville Koop said the cyclone was weakening as it slowly moved away from Vanuatu, and would pass between Fiji and New Caledonia before brushing the North Island of New Zealand on Monday.
Koop said Pam was not the strongest cyclone for the South Pacific, with Zoe packing bigger winds when it hit Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands in 2002. But he said the current storm had gusts of 320 kilometres per hour and sustained winds of 250 kilometres per hour.
- © AFP, 2015, additional reporting by Nicky Ryan. Published at 8.19am
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Fantastic work by the guards. Some happy families in Ireland today once they are united with their loved ones.
@James Fox: we need them out of Ashton Pound though – horrific place that it is. I hope the guards are keeping an eye to make sure that all the little mites that went in come back out again. Fair play to them though – they’ve really stepped up over this in recent weeks.
@Norah Deay: Agreed. I brought a stray there a few years ago. He had mange, but was a friendly little fella. I told them that I would pay any and all veterinary bills and would home him if he wasn’t claimed. He was put down the following day. They never even bothered to contact me. Dogs trust should have been asked to take them.
@Al Moore: did u report this, they have no right to do this questions need to be asked who is running this place & why was a dog put down that somebody was prepared to take
@Sheila McNulty: report it to who? Genuine question.
@Norah Deay: I read horrific posts on FB about that hole. Pity the gardai had to leave them there.
@Al Moore: dogs trust send stray dogs to the pound too to do their stray time. They don’t take them all back
@Al Moore: can you please report this to the CEO of DCC Chiefexecutive@dublincity.ie and your local council if not DCC – and also any councillors in your area – this is appalling.
They should be charged with 32 counts of kidnap!! Hats of to the Gardaí outstanding work.
@Davey Dwyer: 0 arrests
@Anne Feerick: ah Anne..you’re a gobsh!te
@Anne Feerick: I take you don’t have a dog, and if you do, Lets hope it doesn’t go missing on you!
@Anne Feerick: I think you need to get a grip yourself Anne….we’re supposed to be a civilised society.
@Anne Feerick: Hope karma visits with what you’re due
@Anne Feerick: Pity your parents weren’t neutered
@Anne Feerick: Well that’s not true Anne.
@Anne Feerick: narcissist thinking there
@Anne Feerick: So Anne, how did that work out for you?
@Anne Feerick: it is possible to care about both. Don’t understand why some people always try to make it a competition
@Anne Feerick: GS
@Anne Feerick: ignorant response
@Logan Shepherd: I’d say she like a dog now after all that dogs abuse…boom boom…;-)))
@James Hayes: Haha .. Yeah James, sometimes it’s better to just think it :-)
@Anne Feerick: at the very least it’s 32 counts of break and entry, unlawful entry of a premises and theft, 96 charges
@Anne Feerick: I stolen dog may not be comparable to a kidnapped child but it is significantly more important then stolen possessions. You can replace a TV like for like but never a pet
@Anne Feerick: You’re an absolute POS
@James Hayes: Only out for Anne is a fulsome and profound apology …
@Logan Shepherd: … or maybe an unreserved one? Wonder if the dognappers will use it too as a defence in court?
@Miss T: Wish the journal could delete them like Anne’s comment :-)
Punishment for this needs to be severe…
Pavee point remains silent
@johnbrady: and will coz there gone to UK to pick up there UK benifits and sell some puppy’s
Taken To ‘Ashtown Pound ‘ or Ashton Pound ‘? From The Frying Pan into the Fire for these poor animals so.
@Mindyourown: ya just read that…whats going on??
@Mindyourown: I have to agree with you on that! Anywhere but there.
@Gina Carroll: Google ‘Ashton Dog Pound ‘. Apparently currently under Garda Investigation for alleged Abuse!.
@Mindyourown: Yeah i was wondering if that was a typo.Seriously…anywhere else.
@Mindyourown: I know :-( I think we all need to keep a close eye on this situation
Ashtown compound!!!!.
This place is never out of the news for cruelty, unnecessary euthanasia of animals, misappropriation of funds.
Those poor dogs would have stood a better chance with new families.
Why would the dogs be handed over to them??.
@Michael Clinton: it’s under investigation by Gardaí! Ironically
I can’t be 100% but I know this area and I can guess who this was.
@Patrick:can’t we all!
@Patrick: I’d say it was probably the nursing home across the road from the traveller camp.
@Longlin: :-)))
@Longlin: lol
Excellent Work
If Fianna Fail could put away the golf clubs & get this law changed asap:
http://chng.it/6z6kpGrmvj
Well done to the Gardaí and other agencies involved. Now the courts need to step up to the mark and lock these low lifes up for a decent stretch as well as seizing any assets they own which may well have come from their previous callous behaviour.
Brought to that skum hole of a pound. Might as well hit them over the head with a hammer now. Also what drugs are they on with their €120k estimate?
Taken to Ashton Pound, poor dogs. I hope they get reunited with their owners soon.
Brilliant news now jail and conficate vehicles
@Gerard Heery: confiscating vehicles would be an attack in their culture
@Felim O’Rourke: and who wants a load of new white ranger overs
Certainly won’t be cared for in that hell hole.
Ashton Pound ffs, talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Outstanding work. Commendations to everyone involved. Disgusting crime.
Estimated value of 120 k I doubt it. its like the price they put on drugs when they cease them. That’s 3000 euro per dog you would get a pedagre bull for that.
@Shamel Jelupi Barron: orice if dogs have soared during the lockdown hence the rise in thefts, even a Jack Russell, which were given away for free in the past are worth €1,000.
@Shamel Jelupi Barron: you’re right. 300 euro per pup would sound more realistic. I’d say it’s a typo and should be €12,000
@Shamel Jelupi Barron: Dashhound pups are making £3,000 in England, which was mostly there destination as generally when dogs get stolen they become to hot to sell in Ireland.
@Mick Murphy: my sister paid 300 for a Cavachon at the beginning of lockdown. A few weeks later they were selling for 1,500! The main reason behind the theft of dogs
@Mick Murphy: Have a look at the prices being paid for dogs in England. That figure may not be far off. Of course it’s potential worth, dependant on getting top price for them.
@Shamel Jelupi Barron: I paid 1800 UK pounds for my little one
@Shamel Jelupi Barron: according to the Garda Facebook page the Dog Wardens valued the dogs not the Gardai.
@BriP75: Why?
@Tony Donoghue: coz she is cute and was not stolen by a man in a caravan
Its a sad world we live in when dogs have a street value
Ashtown pound ???? Out of the frying pan into the fire. Hope they get reunited shortly for the dogs sake.
Great work. I wonder who took these dogs?
@Robbie Farquharson:
You wouldn’t want to be Einstein to figure that out…..
@Joe Toner: We must be thinking the same thing so!
@Joe Toner:
*have
@Joe Toner:
Oh we are Robbie.. We are!
Some positive news and good policing for a change. Hopefully the culprits involved will be brought to justice
Google the address, Street fights, stolen Power tools, stolen dogs
Money money money again boils my blood why dont these crooks get real job stealing dogs wat next like nothing surprises me absolutely nothing anymore cruel world
A film comes to mind
You Like Dags?
Snatch, Yeah…. I Like Dogs
Ashton Pound!! Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.
@Jason Cody: spot on Jason horrific place.
BRILLIANT NEWS
Please get them out of Ashtown pound today. OMG 24 daschunds!!! The poor pets please god their owners will collect them today.
Brilliant news!! Delighted to hear their owners will be reunited with their babies very soon. The punishment for stealing pets should be no different to kidnapping a child. They are apart of a family, living breathing. Shame on anyone for stealing a family member for money, get a real, respectable job!
I wonder did a traveller tip off the garda, I believe there is a traveller group housing scheme in the area so someone might have spotted some dodgy visitors
@Tony Donoghue: why would they rat on them self’s
Need to be put out of there
Ffs they will be slaughtered in that devils pound.
Owners hurry!
Well done to the Gardai. Now please don’t stop there. Many more stolen dogs out there waiting to be rescued. Just don’t bring them to Ashton Pound, they deserve better than that, after all they have been through. The Law needs to be changed so that the pigs who stole them are locked up and their property confiscated – caravans are fetc a good price at the moment.
out of the frying pan and into the fire comes to mind. keep an eye on them poor little fur babies
Well done. But the sheer irony, that Gardaí have that very dog pound under investigation (as do the Dept of Agriculture) – it is beyond belief that that they are using this place to keep dogs safe, pending the investigation re Dolethal. Wow.
Thanks u hub
Good job Guards, well done to all.
A film comes to mind
You Like Dags?
Snatch, Yeah…. I Like Dogs
@John Keane: I like dags
Ya wana buy a caravan
Thanks u hub you use n
0 arrests?
have your say