Vanuatu, a cluster of 80 islands in the South Pacific, is home to approximately 330,000 individuals. Following a powerful earthquake, the devastating impact was felt across the region. Katie Greenwood, the Fiji-based regional head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, described the widespread destruction, which included collapsed buildings in downtown Port Vila and significant infrastructure damage in provincial areas. Red Cross volunteers were prepared to assist the affected communities in their time of need.
Tragically, at least one person had lost their life in a hospital, as reported by Greenwood based on preliminary information gathered by her team on the ground and local media sources. She remarked to CNN that this earthquake’s aftermath was the most severe she had witnessed in terms of damage in the Pacific region.
The earthquake in Vanuatu prompted the issuance of damage predictions, referred to as pagers, by the US Geological Survey. This particular quake triggered yellow pagers, denoting a level 2 on a scale of 4 for estimated economic damage and the potential for fatalities. Past yellow alerts necessitated a local or regional response due to the severity of the situation. The USGS cautioned that while casualties and damage were possible, the impact was anticipated to be relatively localized, with estimated economic losses equating to 1-10% of Vanuatu’s GDP.
Of the 73,000 individuals who experienced severe shaking during the earthquake, 36,000 were located in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. In the aftermath, Vanuatu government websites became inaccessible, and phone lines for essential services such as the police were reportedly not functioning, as outlined by the Associated Press. Furthermore, updates on social media platforms maintained by the country’s geohazards agency and the prime minister’s office were absent.
Rescue efforts were underway amidst the chaos, with images capturing the scene of collapsed buildings in Port Vila following the earthquake. Although initial tsunami warnings had been issued, they were later rescinded. The National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center assured the public that there was no longer a threat of a tsunami resulting from the earthquake. However, minor sea level fluctuations near the affected coastal areas were anticipated in the hours following the seismic event.
The United States, which had only recently inaugurated its embassy in Vanuatu in July of that year, had been expanding its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China’s growing influence. The US State Department emphasized the significance of the embassy’s opening in furthering diplomatic engagements with Pacific neighbors. Notably, prior to Vanuatu, the US had established embassies in two other island nations, the Solomon Islands and Tonga.
This comprehensive update includes additional information relevant to the earthquake in Vanuatu. For further news coverage and newsletters, visit CNN.com and create an account to stay informed on the latest updates.
