In brief
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Vanuatu has left at least 14 people dead and hundreds injured as search and rescue operations intensify amid ongoing aftershocks.
The death toll from the earthquake that rocked Vanuatu on Tuesday has tragically climbed to 14, prompting frantic search efforts as teams sift through the debris in search of survivors. The powerful 7.3-magnitude tremor, which hit at 12:47 local time, has left around 200 people injured and has significantly impacted infrastructure, including the embassies of the US, France, the UK, and New Zealand.The government has declared a seven-day state of emergency to facilitate search and rescue operations while limiting public movement. As the response continues, four of the deceased were reported to have died in hospitals in the capital, Port Vila, while six lost their lives due to a landslide, and four others perished when a building collapsed. Among the fatalities are two Chinese nationals, as confirmed by the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang.According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an estimated 116,000 individuals could be severely affected by the quake’s consequences. In response to the disaster, neighboring Australia has pledged support, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles announcing that teams will assist in the search efforts. The US and France have also offered aid.Rescue operations are challenging, as images from Vanuatu Police show teams working tirelessly to dig through rubble using jackhammers and concrete saws. Eyewitness Michael Thompson shared that rescuers have heard the voices of at least three individuals trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed three-storey building.The earthquake not only caused significant structural damage to Port Vila, affecting at least ten buildings, but also disrupted power and mobile services. Residents have faced difficulties accessing essential supplies, with many businesses shuttered and debris littering the streets.As the nation continues to battle the aftereffects of this catastrophic seismic event, Vanuatu stands resilient, facing the daunting task of recovery while relying on support from the international community. The country, part of an archipelago of around 80 islands situated in a seismically active zone of the South Pacific, remains vulnerable to natural disasters.
