A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The quake, which struck Tuesday afternoon in the afternoon, caused heavy damage to the capital city, including numerous buildings in Port Vila, among them the U.S. Embassy.
The USGS placed the epicenter of the earthquake just west of Port Vila, raising fears of tsunami waves in coastal areas within a few hundred miles of the quake. No major tsunami resulted, but the shaking heavily damaged buildings, infrastructure and public services, paralyzing parts of the city.
U.S. Embassy Suffers Significant Damage
Among the structures damaged was the U.S. Embassy complex that was also badly damaged and henceforth was closed until further notice. Fortunately, all personnel present at the embassy got out unharmed. “The safety of our team was our first priority,” officials of the Embassy said in a social media statement. Despite the major structural damage to the building, due to good emergency procedures, everybody was present and accounted for in safety.
Other international facilities affected include the embassies of the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The Red Cross, one of the aid agencies to report, said that the airport of Port Vila suffered huge damage, disrupting their operations during emergency responses and giving a hard time for supplies’ transportation. Operations for Search and Rescue Underway
Local authorities reported at least one death and several injuries following the earthquake. Search and rescue teams were dispatched to survey the damage and look for people who may be trapped under destroyed buildings. A series of aftershocks, the strongest of which was a 5.5-magnitude, hampered recovery efforts, reports said.
While the resources are still stretched across the capital and islands, emergency services are concerned with the most hit areas. First responders work day and night to offer medical assistance and help the displaced residents.
Humanitarian Aid Mobilized
The disaster mounted by international aid agencies and regional governments is now an attempt to help the island nation cope with the disaster. Emergency shelters were set up for the people whose homes have been destroyed by the Red Cross, while the local hospitals get support to manage the flow of patients.
With communication networks only partially restored, coordinating those efforts remains extremely difficult. But aid organizations underscore that their focus is on immediate humanitarian needs: shelter, food, and medical assistance.
Vanuatu, lying along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is no stranger to earthquakes; this current earthquake really shows how vulnerable the place is. As rescue and recovery operations continue, the country embarks on a tough journey to rebuild and provide relief in the communities affected.
