A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s coast in the South Pacific on Tuesday, causing significant damage and prompting a temporary tsunami warning.
The quake occurred 30 km west of Port Vila, the country’s largest city, at a depth of 57 km. It was followed by a 5.5 magnitude aftershock.
Although a tsunami warning was lifted less than two hours after the quake, widespread destruction reports began emerging as communication lines remained down. Social media videos showed collapsed buildings, landslides blocking roads, and injured people being treated outside Vila Central Hospital. Phone lines for police, the hospital, and other public agencies were not operational, and no casualties have been confirmed at this time.
One of the buildings in Port Vila, which houses diplomatic missions from the United States, UK, France, and New Zealand, sustained significant damage, according to New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry. Efforts are underway to account for staff members at New Zealand’s High Commission.
Despite the destruction in Vanuatu, authorities in neighboring Australia and New Zealand confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to their countries.
