Photo: Facebook: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. Retrieved from abc.net.au
It wasn’t long ago that rain would stop Martha Kapalu from travelling to the southern reaches of her island in Vanuatu.
Tropical downpours would drench the dirt roads, making them hard for cars to pass — a common problem throughout the nation’s outer islands.
A new tar-sealed road, financed by a loan from China and completed in 2019, now connects Ms Kapalu’s home to other parts of Tanna island, including its south.
“It’s helped us a lot. If we want to go someplace further away, it makes it more easy,” she said.
People growing fruit and vegetables use the road to take produce to the town market.
Visitors also use it on their way to Tanna’s major attractions, including Mount Yasur volcano, Ms Kapalu said.