#prayeralert: Category 5 Cyclone Strikes VanuatuLaura Gish - 17 Mar 2015

On Saturday, March 14, a Category 5 storm, with winds of up to 300km (186 mph), deviated from its expected course and struck populated areas of Vanuatu. The small Pacific nation is home to 267,000 people spread across 65 islands.

A state of emergency has been declared in this tiny island nation. It appears that Port Vila was the hardest hit, with 90 percent of buildings “seriously damaged”. Southern islands may have suffered more damage as described by Oxfam, as “likely to be one of the worst disasters ever seen in the Pacific.”

Buildings, trees and power lines are down. There is concern for water contamination as tap water is not running clean. At least eight people lost their lives, and unconfirmed reports total an additional 44 deaths, with the expected toll to rise as rescuers search outlying islands. Disaster relief aid has been promised from Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, UN and the European Union. 

Please pray with us as this nation seeks to recover from this cyclone’s devastation:

• Ask for supernatural restoration for anyone suffering physically and for divine comfort and peace for those who lost loves ones in the wake of this storm.  
• Pray for peace, hope and restoration among those suffering the loss of homes and possessions. 
• Pray for God’s protection over further loss of life. Pray for relief efforts to progress quickly. 
• Intercede for protection of missions work in Vanuatu. May God’s love draw people powerfully during this time of tragedy and loss! 

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'Earthquake and Tsunami near Sendai, Japan' by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center  and 'Erakor Island Resort, Efate, Vanuatu, 29 Nov. 2006' by 'Phillip Capper'