(BBC): The capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila, witnessed a strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake that caused extensive damage, including landslides, fallen buildings, and crushed cars. The structure was badly damaged and hosted several embassies, including those of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand. Although the exact amount of the devastation is yet unknown, there have been reports of at least one fatality and disruptions to cell networks and power across the nation.
Journalist Dan McGarry, who lives in Port Vila, said the earthquake was the strongest he has seen in more than two decades. He claimed to have seen "several people who were visibly, seriously injured" outside the local hospital's emergency room. The city was in disarray following the earthquake, which occurred at 12:47 PM local time (01:47 GMT), and the extent of the destruction overwhelmed emergency personnel.
Concerned about Vanuatu's emergency responders' lack of resources, McGarry said, "emergency services are going to be busy for a while." He said that Vila Central Hospital police told him that one person had died and that he was afraid the number would increase. Dozens of injured individuals were seen outside the hospital in a video released by the state broadcaster VBTC, many of them were lying on gurneys demanding medical attention.
The Vanuatu Jungle Zipline adventure company's director, Michael Thompson, also talked about the aftermath, claiming to have seen dead laying on the streets. He stated that a massive rescue effort was in progress and that several buildings had collapsed throughout the area.
In her account of the earthquake, Thompson's wife, Amanda, said, "I thought the ceiling was going to come right down." Even while they sometimes have earthquakes, she said, none had been as bad as this one, and their house had suffered major damage, including enormous fractures and shattered glass doors.
To make matters even more nerve-racking, Thompson added that aftershocks were still happening. McGarry voiced confidence in the Vanuatuan people's ability to bounce back from the destruction. "People in Vanuatu deal with natural disasters on an annual basis," he said. We're born with it. Even while we will endure some, we will also overcome this.
A low-lying archipelago of around 80 islands in the South Pacific, Vanuatu is located in an area that is seismically active and frequently experiences natural disasters, including powerful earthquakes. It is especially susceptible to seismic activity because of its location, which is east of northern Australia and west of Fiji.
Among the structures damaged in the earthquake were the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand, all of which were located in the same complex. US officials acknowledged that "considerable damage" had been done to their diplomatic building, which would be shuttered until further notice. As per the embassy's statement, every employee had safely left the premises.
Australian airline Jetstar cancelled a Wednesday morning trip from Sydney to Port Vila due to the earthquake. "Earthquake activity in Vanuatu and reports of possible damage to Port Vila airport infrastructure" were the airline's reasons for canceling. This interruption brought to light the earthquake's continuing effects on the area's communication and transportation networks.
In the two hours after the original earthquake, at least four aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.7 to 5.5 were recorded, according to the US Geological Survey. The terrain became even more unstable after the initial tremor struck at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), making rescue and relief efforts even more urgent.
After the earthquake, authorities in nearby nations, including as Australia and New Zealand, reassured the people that there was no risk of a tsunami. Both governments did, however, convey their worry for Vanuatu and its citizens. The country's willingness to support Vanuatu was confirmed by Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who stated, "Vanuatu is family and we will always be there in times of need."
Winston Peters, the foreign minister of New Zealand, also conveyed his country's profound worry for the situation, saying that it was keeping a close eye on events and communicating its feelings to the Vanuatuan people and government.
Australia and New Zealand have both offered support to examine the damage and provide any necessary aid, as part of the prompt international reaction to the disaster. Even though the situation is still dire, as the full scale of the destruction becomes apparent, attention is being paid to immediate relief measures, such as rescue missions and the restoration of vital services.
