Eight Australians are among 19 volunteers missing in Vanuatu, almost a week after Cyclone Pam struck the island nation.
The volunteers came from Lattitude Global Volunteering, who confirmed the news in a Facebook update.
The group thanked everybody for concerns and said mobile communication issues in Vanuatu is making it difficult to locate the missing volunteers.
DFAT (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) said finding the missing group is a top priority.
The organisation said it has people on the ground and is working closely with Lattitude to locate the volunteers.
“Consular officials have not yet located the group of young Australian volunteers on Pentecost Island and they remain our highest immediate consular priority.”
DFAT spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald
The 19 volunteers were on teaching placements on the eastern islands of Pentecost and Ambae.
Among them is Zoe Marshall from Canberra and Ally Trueman from South Australia. They’re both around 18 years old.
The death toll in Vanuatu still sits at 24, but rescue teams expect it to rise as they start searching outer islands.
A number of people are also seriously injured.
Unicef delivers supplies to locals. Image: Humans of Vanuatu/Facebook
Around 3,300 people or 70 percent of the population has been displaced, causing further concern of diseases and malnourishment.
As Port Vila attempts to rebuild, Santo is calling for tourists to travel to the island where business is still operating.
Operators from the island said the cyclone left minimal damage and stressed the only thing out of the ordinary is a lack of communication, which is being used by locals to email and obtain information about Port Vila.
“If our Island can keep receiving visitors, businesses in Santo will survive the crisis situation in the months to come.”
Beverley Anti, Village de Santo
Meanwhile, DFAT continues to advise travellers to ‘reconsider their need to travel’.
Smartraveller says accommodation in Port Vila is limited and the international airport has sustained damage.
Organisations, including the Red Cross are calling for donations as food and clean water become more scarce in Vanuatu.
Feature image: Humans of Vanuatu/Facebook
