WELLINGTON (New Zealand), Dec 17: A strong magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck just offshore from Vanuatu on Tuesday, leading to significant damage across the South Pacific island nation as hospitals began to treat the injured and unverified reports of casualties surfaced.
A tsunami warning was lifted less than two hours after the quake. However, hours later, communication services remained disrupted, making official updates scarce while social media began to report accounts of injuries.
The earthquake occurred just before 1 pm at a depth of 57 kilometres and was centred 30 kilometres west of Port Vila, Vanuatu’s largest city, which lies within a group of 80 islands home to approximately 330,000 people. An aftershock measuring 5.5 followed, and tremors continued throughout the afternoon and evening.
The extent of the damage remains uncertain, as phone lines and government websites are still down. The Geohazards Department reported on social media that its monitoring systems were offline due to power outages.
Residents have been advised to stay clear of coastlines for the next 24 hours until tsunami and earthquake monitoring systems are restored. While no confirmed details regarding damage or casualties have been released, numerous social media posts and interviews reported extensive destruction.
Crowds outside the hospital
Dan McGarry, a Port Vila journalist, informed The Associated Press of one confirmed fatality, as reported by a police officer outside Vila Central Hospital. He described seeing three individuals on gurneys who were “in obvious distress.”
Medical staff were working urgently at a triage centre outside the emergency department, but McGarry noted that the nation lacks the necessary resources for a mass casualty situation.
Footage shared by the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation depicted large crowds outside the hospital. Contact attempts with local police, hospitals, and other public agencies failed.
Social media footage showed severely damaged buildings in Port Vila, including one structure that had collapsed onto its lower levels, with cars trapped beneath. Amanda Laithwaite reported that her husband was among rescuers trying to lift the roof of a three-story building where individuals may be trapped, but progress was slow without specialized equipment.
Additionally, a building that houses several diplomatic missions, including those of the United States, Britain, France, and New Zealand, sustained considerable damage, although officials confirmed no embassy staff were missing.
Buckled windows and debris
The US Embassy announced on Facebook that all personnel were safe, but the facility would remain closed until further notice. This office had only opened in July as part of a broader strategy by the US to enhance its presence in the Pacific in response to China’s expanding influence in the region.
Australia’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that its staff were unharmed.
Social media videos showed the embassy building with structural damage, including buckled windows and debris fallen from the walls. Other images depicted items scattered on shop floors and landslides blocking some roads.
“We haven’t yet received reports of any casualties, but I would be surprised if we don’t hear of tragic news from Port Vila soon,” Katie Greenwood, head of the Asia-Pacific Red Cross regional office based in Fiji, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
All flights grounded
McGarry noted that a “massive landslide” at the international shipping terminal could hinder the recovery efforts. He also reported damage to the airport’s runway.
Efforts to contact Port Vila’s airport on Tuesday were unsuccessful, but flight tracking services indicated that all flights had been suspended. Several airlines in Australia and the Pacific canceled or postponed flights set for Wednesday while awaiting updates on the airport’s condition.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong assured reporters that Australia would offer necessary assistance. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters mentioned that 45 New Zealanders were known to be in Vanuatu, and his government expressed deep concern for the unfolding situation.
Vanuatu has seen four prime ministers in four years and is set for a snap election in January. In November, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai requested President Nikenike Vurobaravu to dissolve Parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote like his predecessors faced.
Nonetheless, Vanuatu is no stranger to natural disasters, often experiencing cyclones and volcanic eruptions. Positioned on a subduction zone—where the Indo-Australia Plate meets the Pacific Plate—earthquakes greater than magnitude 6 are frequent, and the country’s infrastructure is designed to mitigate quake-related damage. (AP)
