A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu, causing widespread destruction and raising fears of casualties. The earthquake, with an epicenter off the coast of the island nation in the South Pacific, left several buildings damaged and prompted reports of bodies found on the streets. The capital, Port Vila, located about 30 kilometers (10 miles) west of the epicenter, felt the brunt of the earthquake, which occurred at a depth of 57 kilometers (35 miles).
Following the tremor, a tsunami warning was issued, forecasting waves up to one meter (3 feet) in some parts of Vanuatu, but it was soon lifted by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Despite the warning, there were no confirmed tsunami-related damages, and authorities in Australia and New Zealand assured that their nations were not at risk.
Witnesses reported seeing bodies in the streets and extensive damage to infrastructure, including the collapse of bridges and buildings. One of the most affected structures was a building that housed the US and French embassies, with the ground floor crushed under the weight of upper floors. A landslide also buried a bus, and emergency responders have been working on rescue operations.
Fidel Zebeta, from the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office, confirmed that aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 had followed the main quake. Authorities advised residents in coastal areas to move to higher ground as a precaution.
While Vanuatu’s government websites and phone lines were temporarily down, efforts to coordinate the disaster response continued. There were reports of significant structural damage to buildings, including diplomatic offices, with emergency workers on the scene assisting in the rescue operations. Vanuatu’s low-lying islands are particularly vulnerable to such natural disasters, as the country sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent seismic activity.
The earthquake has left many questioning the scale of the destruction and the potential loss of life, as rescue efforts continue in the wake of this tragic event.
