Strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits Vanuatu
A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake occurred at 12:47 local time (01:47 GMT) at a depth of 57.1 km. It initially triggered a tsunami alert for parts of the Pacific island nation, though authorities declared the threat over by 14:14 local time.
While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, there are unconfirmed reports of at least one death. Journalist Dan McGarry, based in Port Vila, said police at Vila Central Hospital informed him of a fatality. McGarry, posting on X, described seeing three seriously injured individuals on hospital gurneys awaiting treatment, calling it the “biggest earthquake I’ve seen in 20+ years.”
Social media footage reveals collapsed buildings, vehicles damaged by falling debris, and furniture scattered inside homes. Residents have also reported disruptions to communication networks.
The US embassy in Port Vila sustained “considerable damage” and will remain closed indefinitely, according to photographs and a statement from US officials. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected,” the US embassy in Papua New Guinea said, pledging support to Vanuatu.
Michael Thompson, director of the Vanuatu Jungle Zipline adventure company, told AFP news agency he saw bodies in the streets. “Several buildings have collapsed around town. A major rescue operation is underway to find survivors trapped in the rubble,” he said in a Facebook video, adding that most communication services were down.
In the two hours following the main quake, the USGS recorded at least four aftershocks near Port Vila, with magnitudes ranging from 4.7 to 5.5.
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Authorities in neighbouring New Zealand and Australia said there was no tsunami threat for their countries.
Australia also said it “stands ready to support Vanuatu as the extent of the damage is assessed”.
“Vanuatu is family and we will always be there in times of need,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong wrote on X.
Vanuatu, a low-lying archipelago of some 80 islands, is located in a seismically active area and susceptible to frequent large earthquakes and other natural disasters.
