7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Ravages Vanuatu Island

December 17, 2024 EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AJIBOLA

A dreadful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 on Tuesday hit the coast of Vanuatu, which caused lots of damage to the South Pacific island, leaving several people injured and some dead.

The earthquake affected 80 groups of islands that are home to 330,000 people, and it is reported to have taken place before 1 pm at a speed of 57 kilometres, which is 35 miles, and later directed towards the largest city in Vanuatu, which is 30 kilometres from Port Vila. The earthquake was accompanied by a magnitude of 5.5 shaking close to the same place, which continued from afternoon till evening.

The communication lines are still very much down as the officials are yet to give reports or account for anything, as people are already calling and also dropping videos of those that are injured and affected by the earthquake.

Also, the geohazard department explained that the government’s website is temporarily down due to power outages, and the authorities have no idea of how much destruction must have taken place.

The people staying within that location are already advised not to move close to the coastlines within 24 hours as the tsunami and earthquake monitoring systems are yet to function.

A journalist, Dan McGarry, who resides in Port Vila, gave his little bit of information, stating that he had overheard a police officer outside Vila Hospital confirm a death. He also added that the doctors are trying their best for the patients in the hospital, but based on the numbers still gathered outside to be attended to, the country lacks enough equipment to cater in case of a mass emergency.

There are videos of fallen buildings circulating the internet. Another is a building housing a number of diplomatic missions in Port Vila, including those of the United States, Britain, France, and New Zealand.

The U.S. Embassy took to its Facebook page to say that all staff were safe, but the building will be locked until further notice.

Katie Greenwood, the Fiji-based head of the Asia-Pacific regional office for the Red Cross, spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corp, saying, “We haven’t heard at the moment about any casualties, but I will be shocked if we don’t hear that bad news coming through from Port Vila at some point.”

All the airports and their activities have also been suspended until they get news about the status of the airport.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters that her country would provide the necessary support it would need. Also, New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, said 45 New Zealanders were registered as being in Vanuatu, and his government was “deeply concerned.”

Vanuatu has been governed by four prime ministers within four years and is due to go to the polls in January for a snap election. In November, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai requested President Nikenike Vurobaravu to remove the Parliament so he doesn’t have to get a no-confidence vote as his recent predecessors did.

The earthquake, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters are not new in Vanuatu, based on its position in a subduction zone.