Vanuatu has been rocked by a second earthquake this morning as rescuers raced against time to reach survivors trapped under rubble, following a devastating magnitude 7.3 quake yesterday that caused widespread destruction.
Australia has pledged immediate aid, including urban search and rescue teams and emergency medical support. “Australians are thinking of our friends and neighbours in Vanuatu,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed DFAT is assisting Australians in the region and urged those in need to contact consular services.
Geosciences Australia confirmed a 6.0-magnitude aftershock struck at 5.17am AEDT today at a depth of 72km, compounding the crisis for the Pacific island nation. The Red Cross, citing government sources, reported early this morning that the death toll had risen to 14, with hundreds injured.
The first quake, which struck off Efate Island at 12.47pm on Tuesday, was felt violently for up to 30 seconds. It caused severe damage, including to the La Casa D’Andrea E Luciano building that houses multiple embassies, where part of the structure collapsed.
Drone footage revealed significant landslides near Vanuatu’s international shipping terminal, with eyewitnesses predicting further casualties. “There are buildings down here so I’m expecting the casualty figure to rise,” Vanuatu-based journalist Dan McGarry told AAP.
Port Vila hospital has been overwhelmed by casualties, with tents erected outside to accommodate the influx of wounded patients. “We understand that Port Vila hospital is quite full … they are struggling to cope,” said World Vision Vanuatu’s Clement Chipokolo.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that immediate response efforts are underway despite widespread communication outages. Images shared by public broadcaster VBTC showed injured residents being transported in flatbed trucks and treated on makeshift stretchers.
A seven-day state of emergency, including a nightly curfew, has been declared by caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, who described the situation as “a sad and devastating time” for Vanuatu.
The people of Vanuatu now face a long road to recovery, with urgent needs including clean water, medical aid, and shelter.
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