Wollongong holidaymakers stranded in cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu will arrive home on Wednesday with an extraordinary tale of survival to share.
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Albion Park woman Maree Butler, 71, was at Iririki Island Resort - near the capital Port Vila - with her partner John Lawson and a group of friends when severe Tropical Cyclone Pam hit on Friday night.
The group, which included six Wollongong residents, was holidaying to celebrate a 50th birthday and due to fly home the following day.
Maree’s daughter Angela Butler told the Mercury the group’s terrifying ordeal began when they were evacuated from their island getaway to the mainland.
‘‘They spent the duration [of the cyclone], I think more than 12 hours, in a bunker underneath the hotel with one toilet, no water and no power,’’ Angela said.
‘‘They said there were hundreds of people in there and they had to scoop water off the floor to flush toilets ... it was pretty rough.
‘‘You couldn’t get any contact to them because all the phone lines were down for days, so it was good when we finally heard from them late on Sunday.
‘‘From what they’ve all told me all the resorts really took care of all the tourists – they got them out well before time, they had them in places where there were bunkers and had people there with them to make sure they were okay.’’
Since the disaster struck, Angela has worked frantically to find a way to get the group home.
‘‘Mum bought a SIM card from over there, so she’s been able to text me and I’ve been on the phone here flat out trying to get on to Foreign Affairs ... trying to get them on a flight,’’ she said.
‘‘It just seems like a lot of them are stuck over there waiting to try and get on a plane, some can get on Air Force planes but it depends on what they’ve got available.’’
Late on Tuesday, the group secured a flight out of the devastated island nation and is due to land in Australia on Wednesday night.
Angela said they were in good spirits, despite picking up viruses.
‘‘My mum and her partner are sick as a dog ... they’ve all got bugs now, I guess from the water and the after-effects and everything,’’ she said.
‘‘They’re all just absolutely dying to get home.’’