Rescuers in Vanuatu are continuing their search for survivors trapped under rubble a day after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific nation’s capital, Port Vila. The earthquake, which occurred on Sunday, has killed at least 14 people, injured more than 200, and caused widespread damage to commercial buildings, embassies, and a hospital.
Vanuatu Police Commissioner Robson Iavro confirmed that search efforts are focused on two buildings that collapsed in the city. Authorities are working to free individuals trapped inside, with some survivors reportedly in contact with police. “We believe there are more stuck inside,” Iavro said in a video message.
Footage shared on social media showed the extent of the damage, with vehicles crushed by debris, large boulders scattered across highways, and landslides near Port Vila’s international shipping terminal. Australian businessman Michael Thompson, who operates a zip line adventure in Vanuatu, posted on Facebook that he had assisted with rescue efforts, helping to dig out three people, one of whom was in serious condition.
Power, water, and communication lines remain disrupted across the capital, according to government and energy officials. In response to the influx of injured residents, triage tents have been set up outside Port Vila’s hospital to handle the growing number of patients. The National Disaster Management Office reported that ten buildings in the capital had sustained major structural damage, including a building housing several foreign embassies, such as those of the US, UK, France, and New Zealand. The earthquake caused concrete pillars supporting the embassy complex to collapse.
Overnight, several aftershocks rattled the region, including one with a magnitude of 6.1, adding to concerns about the stability of damaged structures.
In the aftermath, Vanuatu’s caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai declared a state of emergency and imposed a seven-day curfew in the worst-hit areas. International assistance is being mobilized, with Australia sending two military planes, including a medical assistance team and a search and rescue unit. “This is a very significant incident, and we hold anxiety about how it will unfold,” said Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.
Port Vila’s international airport has been closed to commercial flights for 72 hours to allow medical and emergency aircraft to land, according to Airports Vanuatu CEO Jason Rakau. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has estimated that approximately 116,000 people—around one-third of the country’s population—have been affected by the earthquake.
