Cyclone Lola deaths caused by inaccessibility to urgent medical care

As the recovery begins in Vanuatu, reports of the devastation left by the severe tropical cyclone Lola are filtering through.

Speaking to 531 pi's Pacific Mornings, Save the Children Country Director in Vanuatu Polly Banks says as of yesterday, the official death toll is four.

All four deaths were because of inaccessibility to urgent medical care causing the heart-breaking report of a pregnant woman in labour passing away.

Banks says impassable roads delayed her getting to hospital.

"She was an extended family member of one of my colleagues. She was unable to get to a hospital while delivering a baby and both she and her baby lost their lives ... due to the cyclone blocking roads and it being impossible to travel."

Homes, schools and food sources annihilated in the path of Cyclone Lola. Photo/Supplied

The category five cyclone heavily impacted the provinces of Torba, Penama and Malampa and Pentecost Island bore the brunt of it.

Up to fifty per cent of homes have been completely flattened and about seventy schools were either destroyed or are in need of significant repairs.

Banks says food security is now a major cause for concern as the main source of food has been completely wiped out.

"This is in a country where 75 per cent of the population lives rurally and relies on their food gardens. All of those food gardens in the areas affected have been completely destroyed.

"So we are expecting that there's gonna be some serious food insecurity issues in the coming weeks."

Banks says the cyclone season has officially begun and Cyclone Lola was an unexpected category five event.

Families are picking up the pieces of a cyclone torn life in Vanuatu.

Up-to-date official information and notices regarding the weather situation in Vanuatu can be found at the following official sites:

Vanuatu Meteorology Facebook Page

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Outlook weather bulletins

The National Disaster Management Office Port Vila Facebook Page 

New Zealanders in Vanuatu requiring emergency assistance should contact the local emergency services on the following numbers:

Police: 22222 or 111

Ambulance: 22100 or 112

Fire: 22333 or 113

If you require consular assistance, please call +64 99 20 20 20.