Death toll rises to 14 after Vanuatu earthquake, rescue efforts ongoing
Rescuers in Vanuatu searched on Wednesday for people trapped under rubble a day after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific nation's capital, Port Vila, killing 14 people and damaging commercial buildings, embassies and a hospital, WAM reports.
More than 200 people have been injured, with rescue efforts focused on two buildings that collapsed, Vanuatu Police Commissioner Robson Iavro said in a video message.
Three people trapped in a collapsed building were communicating with rescuers, he said. "We believe there are more stuck inside," Iavro said.
Footage posted on social media showed vehicles crushed under the debris, boulders strewn across a highway and landslides near Port Vila's international shipping terminal.
Concrete pillars on a building hosting foreign missions in the capital, including the US, British, French and New Zealand embassies, collapsed in the powerful quake.
Power, water and communications remain disrupted, government and energy officials said. Triage tents have been set up outside Port Vila's hospital to manage the influx of patients.
Several aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.1, rattled Vanuatu overnight.
Caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said a national disaster committee had declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew for seven days in the worst-affected areas.
Earlier, it was reported, that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook parts of Northern California.
My friend Jamie just shared this video of the moment the earthquake struck his home. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/FaR24r2DeJ
— Dan McGarry (@VanuatuDan) December 18, 2024
The search for survivors continues on the Pacific Island of Vanuatu after it was hit by a deadly magnitude 7.4 earthquake on December 17, 2024. Read more: https://t.co/r9D6zgZA2T pic.twitter.com/8DlVqLW1ac
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) December 18, 2024
7.3 earthquake has hit Vanuatu, an island east of Australia.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 17, 2024
In this video is the American Embassy. It collapsed with people inside.
The island has suffered massive damage.
Pray for the victims and their families.
🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/iwZ338kYYm
