7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Vanuatu, Causing Widespread Destruction

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale occurred close to Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital, leading to landslides, vehicle damage, and the collapse of numerous structures, among them a complex housing several Western diplomatic missions. While there are unverified accounts of fatalities, the complete scope of the devastation is still undetermined, with electricity and cellular communication services nationwide currently disrupted. Dan McGarry, a journalist residing in Port Vila, reported that medical officials at the hospital informed him of at least one fatality. He observed “several people who were visibly, seriously injured” outside the emergency department. Although Vanuatu frequently experiences earthquakes, Mr. McGarry conveyed to the BBC that this particular tremor felt like “the biggest one… in more than 20 years”. The seismic event occurred on Tuesday at 12:47 local time (01:47 GMT). Mr. McGarry stated, “Emergency services are going to be busy for a while. We have limited equipment and capabilities here,” further mentioning that law enforcement at Vila Central Hospital confirmed one death and anticipated an increase in the casualty count. A video shared on the state broadcaster VBTC’s Facebook page depicted dozens of individuals outside the Vila Central Hospital, with many positioned on hospital gurneys awaiting medical attention. Michael Thompson, who directs the Vanuatu Jungle Zipline adventure company, informed AFP news agency that he had observed deceased individuals in the roadways. In a distinct video uploaded to Facebook, Mr. Thompson remarked, “There’s multiple buildings that have come down around town. There’s a big rescue operation on the way to clear out people who are possibly alive in the building.” Amanda Thompson, Mr. Thompson’s wife, conveyed to the BBC, “I thought the ceiling [of our house] was going to come right down.” She continued, “We often have earthquakes here but not like this. The house has giant cracks all through it, sliding glass doors are smashed. “We are feeling a lot of after shakes now, each one make us nervous as we run out the door to open air,” she added. Nevertheless, Mr. McGarry asserted that the inhabitants of Vanuatu would “get through” this recent catastrophe. He stated, “People in Vanuatu deal with natural disasters on a yearly basis. It’s in our blood. We’ll get through this as well, although not without some suffering.” Vanuatu, an archipelago comprising approximately 80 low-lying islands in the South Pacific, lies to the west of Fiji and thousands of kilometers to the east of northern Australia. The country is situated in a region of high seismic activity, making it vulnerable to frequent powerful earthquakes and other natural calamities. The United States Embassy, the British High Commission, the French Embassy, and the New Zealand High Commission were identified among the structures within the same complex that sustained damage. Officials from the United States reported that the edifice suffered “considerable damage” and would remain inaccessible indefinitely. They confirmed that all personnel within the building had evacuated without harm. Furthermore, multiple Australian airlines have suspended flights to Port Vila, attributing the cancellations to damage at the airport. The Australian airline Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, canceled a flight planned for Wednesday morning from Sydney to Port Vila, citing “earthquake activity in Vanuatu and reports of possible damage to Port Vila airport infrastructure”. The United States Geological Survey documented a minimum of four aftershocks near Port Vila—with magnitudes spanning from 4.7 to 5.5—within the two-hour period following the initial earthquake. The primary tremor occurred at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles). Officials in the neighboring nations of New Zealand and Australia declared that no tsunami threat existed for their respective territories. Australia also affirmed its readiness “to support Vanuatu as the extent of the damage is assessed.” Foreign Minister Penny Wong posted on X, stating, “Vanuatu is family and we will always be there in times of need.” New Zealand expressed being “deeply concerned” and indicated it was observing the situation. Foreign Minister Winston Peters conveyed, “Our thoughts are with the people and authorities of Vanuatu.” For those situated in Vanuatu, if conditions allow for safety, kindly reach out. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Details concerning our external linking policy are available.