A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Tuesday, causing significant damage, including the collapse of buildings in the capital, Port Vila.
The tremor was followed by a 5.5-magnitude aftershock, with smaller tremors continuing throughout the afternoon and evening local time.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 6 miles at 12:47 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System. Its epicenter was located approximately 18 miles west of Port Vila, Vanuatu’s largest city.
Phone lines and communication systems were disrupted, limiting the flow of official updates.
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Impact of Earthquake on Port Vila
Port Vila, home to over 50,000 residents, was heavily impacted. Hospitals, police services, and other public services were rendered inoperable as phone lines failed.
The U.S. embassy in Port Vila confirmed that it had “sustained significant damage” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
U.S. citizens in Vanuatu in need of assistance have been asked to contact the U.S. embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, at consularportmorseby@state.gov.
The embassy will be closed until further notice.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this earthquake, and the U.S. government will work closely with our partners in Vanuatu,” the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Asia Pacific confirmed on X that the hospital in Port Vila had been “compromised,” with triage tents set up outside to handle the influx of patients.
The operating theatre at the hospital was reported as being non-functional, “and overall healthcare capacity is overwhelmed,” the U.N. agency said.
116,000 people are thought to have been affected, with six reported to be dead so far.
🚨 Vanuatu Earthquake Flash Update No. 1
💠 On 17 December, a 7.3M earthquake struck 30 km west of Port Vila
💠6 unconfirmed fatalities reported, and approximately 116k people potentially be affected
💠Telecommunications continue to be disrupted
— UN OCHA Asia Pacific (@OCHAAsiaPac) December 17, 2024
Journalist Dan McGarry, based in Vanuatu, described confirmed reports of deaths and injuries.
In a post on X, McGarry wrote, “Bottom line: It’s bad. People died, and many more were hurt. Some have lost their home, and many will find it hard to get back to work. Repairs will likely stretch for years, as they always do in the wake of disaster.”
Vanuatu Earthquake Tsunami Warning
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System initially observed tsunami waves following the earthquake but lifted the warning less than two hours later.
Though there is no longer a perceived tsunami threat, the public has been warned to exercise caution near the sea.
Minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas, the latest update from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu said in its latest update.
Where Is Vanuatu?
Vanuatu, a remote archipelago of 80 islands in the South Pacific, lies within the Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
According to National Geographic, the region is home to a staggering 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes (and 75 percent of its volcanoes).
Approximately 330,000 people live in Vanuatu, and earthquakes exceeding magnitude 6 are not uncommon due to its location on a subduction zone where the Indo-Australian Plate slides beneath the Pacific Plate.
Subduction earthquakes are typically the most violent kind, as they occur where tectonic plates collide. The plates gradually push up against one another and stick until the pressure becomes too large, forcing a large slip and generating an earthquake.
In the past century, the region has recorded 24 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or larger within 250 kilometers of Tuesday’s tremor, including a magnitude 7.9 quake in 1950.
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