Vanuatu's Capital Port Vila Hit by 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Causing Major Destruction
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Sydney, Dec 17 (NationPress) A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday, leading to extensive damage to numerous buildings, including a shared diplomatic facility.
The quake occurred 30 km west of Port Vila at 12:47 local time, with a depth of 43 km, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
At least one fatality has been confirmed, and a mass casualty triage unit was established at a hospital in Port Vila following the earthquake, according to Xinhua news agency, which cited the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Communication challenges hindered the assessment of the damage, as phone lines and government websites were non-operational. However, reports of widespread destruction began surfacing on social media soon after the quake, as noted by the Guardian Australia.
A Red Cross representative in Fiji stated that personnel on the ground were reporting significant destruction, as highlighted by the Guardian Australia. Footage from the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation depicted crowds outside Vila Central Hospital, seemingly assisting injured individuals onto stretchers.
The Guardian Australia quoted Dan McGarry, a journalist in Port Vila, who observed three individuals on gurneys displaying obvious distress outside a medical facility.
"It was the most intense earthquake I've felt in my 21 years living in Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands," McGarry remarked. "I've experienced many large quakes, but never one like this."
The embassy building housing representatives from Britain, the United States, France, and New Zealand was reported damaged due to the earthquake, according to ABC.
The New Zealand High Commission's building, which shares its location with US, French, and British missions, also suffered significant damage, as confirmed by a spokesperson from New Zealand's foreign ministry.
Numerous large structures collapsed in Port Vila, leading to widespread power outages and water shortages in most areas of the capital, as stated by Care Australia, a humanitarian organization.
The Australian High Commission in Port Vila was evacuated during the earthquake, ABC reported.
Communication disruptions were widespread across the nation, as noted in the New Zealand statement, while the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu reported similar issues with their communication systems after the quake struck.
