Update on Australians in Vanuatu

  • Media release

Australian consular officials have today evacuated by helicopter five young volunteers from Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. These included two Australians, one New Zealand citizen and two United Kingdom nationals. All are safe and well and have been able to speak to their families.

We hope to evacuate the remaining eight volunteers on Pentecost Island on Friday 20 March. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remains in regular contact with the organisation that these young people are associated with as well as with their families.

We also expect to evacuate the six young volunteers, including three Australians, located on the island of Ambae on Friday 20 March.

Australians currently located on the island of Espiritu Santo have access to power, water and food, but communications are out. Air Vanuatu resumed its services to Espiritu Santo on 18 March.

Communications are out and airstrips are damaged in many islands, so contact with and travel to these areas is difficult. Our consular staff in Vanuatu are continuing to make all efforts to contact and assist all Australians.

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