T he year 1971 will be remembered mainly for the appalling wet of the cooler and supposedly drier season and the start of the worst cyclone season for many years. Four separate cyclones hit the New Hebrides, one of them twice, causing extensive damage to public and private buildings and to food supplies throughout the islands. The two urban areas of Vila and Santa suffered little from the cyclones but extensive damage was caused in Santa by a major earthquake in October. Also of note was the renewal of volcanic activity from dormant centres in the Shepherd Islands and off the east coast of Epi.