At least 14 people have died, and hundreds more have been injured in Vanuatu’s Tuesday strong earthquake; rescue crews are still frantically looking for survivors. The 7.3-magnitude tremor struck the Pacific island nation, causing extensive damage in Port Vila and the environs.
Significant structural damage from the earthquake included building collapses and impaired critical infrastructure. Among the damaged structures were the United States embassy, France’s, the United Kingdom’s, and New Zealand’s embassy. Power and mobile services were also seriously affected throughout the region.
“Search and rescue activities have great urgency. Although we are doing all we can to find survivors, the situation is severe,” stated Vanuatu’s police spokesman in a recent statement.
What damage and casualties did the earthquake cause?
The death count as of right now is 14; most of them come from landslides and fallen buildings. Four of the victims died in a Port Vila hospital; six others perished in a landslide, and four in a collapsed structure. As search teams keep sifting through rubble and trash, authorities warn that the toll could rise still.
Two of the victims were Chinese nationals, as confirmed by the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang. He paid his respects and promised help for the continuous rescue operations.
“We are greatly saddened by the loss of life and are working closely with Vanuatu authorities to assist in every possible way,” Li Minggang said in an official statement.
Why was Vanuatu declared a state of emergency?
Declared a seven-day state of emergency, Vanuatu police have limited public movement and guaranteed that relief and rescue efforts may be executed freely. The nation’s leadership is concentrating on restoring law and order and offering essential assistance to earthquake victims.
A government official said, “while the state of emergency may disrupt normal life, it is crucial for public safety and the effectiveness of our rescue and relief efforts.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs projects that the worst effects of the earthquake might affect up to 116,000 people. The humanitarian situation is still uncertain; the administration of the island nation and foreign partners are working nonstop to evaluate the whole extent of the devastation and offer relief.
How is the international community supporting the effort at recovery?
The earthquake has attracted broad worldwide attention, with neighboring Australia deploying personnel to help with search and rescue operations. The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia confirmed the extra personnel deployment to assist local authorities following the accident.
“Australia is here to assist Vanuatu during its period of need. In a recent interview, he said: “We are sending medical professionals, search and rescue teams, and humanitarian relief to help those affected by this tragedy.”
The United States and France promised to offer resources and aid, reinforcing the worldwide reaction.
How does Port Vila's ground situation now stand?
Images of Vanuatu police posted on social media show rescuers hand-sifting through the debris and crawling beneath collapsed buildings in search of survivors. Even under the terrible conditions, rumors of hope exist when rescuers detect faint whispers under the rubble.
A citizen of Vanuatu, who personally saw the rescue operations, detailed the valiant efforts to free people caught. “We heard the voices of at least three persons from the remains of a three-story structure. Rescuers are saving lives with whatever they can get their hands on—jackhammers, grinders, concrete saws—” he said.
Many businesses in Port Vila stayed shuttered, and trash lined the streets. There was more uncertainty and urgency since some roads were damaged, and individuals could be seen looking for basic needs.
Vanuatu's degree of vulnerability to natural disasters
Located in the seismically active “Ring of Fire,” Vanuatu is a low-lying archipelago of about 80 islands in the South Pacific that is quite vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. The nation is susceptible to regular earthquake activity because it is west of Fiji and hundreds of kilometers east of northern Australia.
“This earthquake reminds us once more how vulnerable our area is to natural calamities. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the nation’s dedication to continuous recovery initiatives by saying we would do everything possible to help Vanuatu’s people.
Vanuatu is still in turmoil even as rescue efforts continue and the full extent of the disaster becomes known. Overcoming the repercussions of this catastrophic earthquake would depend mainly on the nation’s resilience and the help of foreign partners.
