Experts Anticipate Extensive Damage from Earthquake in Vanuatu

Wellington, Dec 18 (NationPress) Seismologists in New Zealand and Australia are forecasting extensive damage as a result of the powerful earthquake that hit Vanuatu on Tuesday.

The 7.3-magnitude shallow earthquake resulted in intense shaking near the capital, Port Vila, located approximately 30 km from the epicenter, at 12:47 local time, with a depth of 43 km, according to the US Geological Survey.

Described by locals as a "violent, high-frequency vertical shake," the earthquake has led to at least 14 fatalities and hundreds of injuries, while an initial tsunami warning has now been lifted.

Associate Professor Kasper van Wijk from the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland noted that this earthquake was both shallow and close to Port Vila, making significant damage likely, as Vanuatu, like New Zealand, is situated atop a subduction zone.

Mark Stirling, chair of Earthquake Science at the University of Otago, remarked that this quake occurred at the epicenter of one of the most active plate boundaries, where the subduction zone between the Vanuatu microplate and the Australian plate is moving rapidly at approximately 170 mm per year, making major earthquakes common in this area.

Associate Professor Fabio Capitanio from the School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University stated that the recurrence interval for these earthquakes is estimated at around every 100 years, although this cannot be reliably predicted for future events.

Behzad Fatahi from Civil and Earthquake Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney indicated that Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation comprising over 80 islands and home to about 320,000 residents, is located within the highly seismically active "Ring of Fire," with Port Vila being the nearest major urban center likely to endure the most severe impacts.

According to Fatahi, aftershocks can be serious and sometimes nearly as perilous as the main quake, urging residents in Port Vila and surrounding areas such as New Caledonia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands to stay vigilant for additional tremors, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

In 2009, two strong earthquakes exceeding 7.7 magnitude struck this region within 15 minutes of each other, and in 2021, the Loyalty Islands earthquake triggered several smaller earthquakes and tsunamis, he added.

Fatahi also cautioned about potential secondary hazards, including soil liquefaction and landslides, particularly in coastal cliffs and hilly areas west of Port Vila, where ground instability may be exacerbated by aftershocks.

Tuesday's quake inflicted severe damage on local infrastructure, impacting buildings such as the New Zealand High Commission and the embassies of the United States, France, and Britain.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that New Zealand is prepared to offer assistance if required.

According to the Red Cross, there has been extensive damage throughout Vanuatu.