A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu, causing widespread damage in Port Vila. The quake triggered a tsunami warning and disrupted communication systems. Hospitals and public services were rendered inoperable.
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.Impact of Earthquake on Port VilaPort 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 [email protected] 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.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.
Earthquake Vanuatu Port Vila Tsunami Damage
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