Rescuers in Vanuatu are working tirelessly to find survivors trapped under rubble after a powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Port Vila, the nation’s capital, killing 14 people and injuring over 200.
The earthquake, which occurred at 12:47 local time on Tuesday, caused significant damage to at least 10 buildings in the city center. Among the casualties, six deaths resulted from a landslide, and four others were caused by a building collapse, with the death toll expected to climb further.
Glen Craig, chair of the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council, described the quake as unprecedented. “This was next level; it felt like something that comes once in a generation,” he said. Craig recounted how he and his wife were caught off guard while celebrating the Christmas season.
Many of the affected buildings include critical infrastructure, such as a structure housing several embassies, including the US Embassy and British High Commission. “That building just pancaked,” Craig said. “I’d expect the number of casualties to rise.”
Photos shared by Vanuatu Police showed rescuers crawling through debris and sifting through rubble by hand. Michael Thompson, one of the rescue workers, revealed that three people had been pulled from the wreckage overnight, but one later succumbed to injuries.
Rescue teams are facing significant challenges, with Thompson noting an urgent need for equipment like jackhammers and excavators. Many rescuers worked through the night without adequate resources.
An estimated 116,000 people could be impacted by the quake’s devastation, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. However, Craig noted that the damage was largely confined to the capital. “The outskirts of Vanuatu were largely unharmed, as were most people living outside the capital,” he added.
Neighbouring countries, including Australia, the US, and France, have pledged aid and sent teams to assist in search and rescue operations. The earthquake also triggered a brief tsunami warning but caused no significant waves.
Vanuatu, an archipelago of 80 islands in the South Pacific, is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to frequent seismic activity. This disaster follows a series of challenges for the nation, including the Covid pandemic and three cyclones last year.
“We normally don’t experience this many fatalities from natural disasters,” Craig said. “But we are resilient. There will be some semblance of normality by Thursday.”
Efforts to restore essential services, including electricity and internet, are underway, and banks are expected to reopen soon.
