A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu, Oceania, early Tuesday afternoon, causing serious damage to the US Embassy building, reservoirs, a commercial building, and a hospital in the capital. It also disrupted internet connectivity in the Pacific Island Nation, shutting down government agencies’ websites. The earthquake triggered small tsunami waves, while aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 were also recorded.
Social Media footage showed people crushed under debris, boulders strewn across the highway and landslides near Port Vila’s International Shipping Terminal.
Death Toll and Injured
By early Wednesday, at least 14 people were reported dead. 200 people were injured and were being treated in the capital’s main hospital and other medical centres, as shared by a Red Cross official on X.
“It was the most violent earthquake I’ve experienced in my 21 years living in Vanuatu and in the Pacific Island. I’ve seen a lot of earthquakes, never one like this,” a journalist based in Vanuatu shared with Reuters.
Aftershock
Due to the constant aftershocks, the Caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has declared a state of emergency. She has imposed a curfew for seven days in the most affected areas. Vanuatu has also sought international assistance. Defense Minister Richard Marles told ABC Radio in an interview, “This is a very significant incident, and we hold anxiety about how it will unfold.”
The people of Vanuatu are scared right now as they queue for fuel and essentials. Rescue efforts continue at affected places where people are still trapped under the rubble.
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