Australian officials have located five international volunteers who went missing in cyclone-hit Vanuatu.

The two groups from Lattitude Global Volunteering had not been heard from since Tropical Cyclone Pam struck the Pacific Island nation almost a week ago.

But yesterday three of the volunteers were located via helicopter and flown back to Port Vila. Another two were also located. 

However, a further 14 people have still not been contacted, so search flights will continue.

Australian Jasper Lawson, 23, was one of the volunteers flown to the capital. 

“I think this is a bit too much. I feel people should be focusing on the locals who need the help. Just because we’re Australian and British, I really hope more money can go the locals here in the region,” he said.

Eighteen-year-old Zoe Marshall, who was one of the volunteers on Pentecost Island, has not yet been located by officials.

Missing person posters for Ms Marshall have been placed at the Red Cross office and National Disaster Management Office in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila.

Consular officials and paramedics, equipped with satellite phones, flew to the remote islands of Pentecost and Ambae to search for the volunteers. 

Officials said there were 13 volunteers on Pentecost and six on Ambae. 

Earlier, reports from assessment teams reported no deaths or serious injuries from the two islands. 

Text messages received by the parents of one of the volunteers suggested they knew the cyclone was coming and were preparing for the impact.

Communications have been cut to most parts of Vanuatu after the category 5 cyclone swept through the country on Friday night.

Officials have generally been relieved at the low death toll, which officially stands at 11.

Some of the volunteers were staying at Aligu village, near Renbura on the north-east of Pentecost Island.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they are checking on the well-being of around 100 Australian and Canadian citizens across Vanuatu.

– Weatherzone/ABC