Vanuatu earthquake leaves 14 dead and the Prime Minister declares a state of emergency

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A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Port Vila in Vanuatu on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 200, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Rescue efforts continue amid widespread damage, including collapsed buildings, landslides and destroyed infrastructure in the capital.

According to local authorities, four deaths were recorded in the main hospital, six deaths due to a landslide, and four deaths as a result of a building collapse, and the death toll is expected to rise as search efforts continue.

“We have anecdotal information from people at the search and rescue site that are fairly confident that these numbers will unfortunately go up,” Katie Greenwood, head of the International Federation of the Red Cross in the Asia-Pacific region, told the Associated Press.

More than 200 wounded are receiving treatment at Vila Central Hospital in the capital.

The devastating earthquake caused damage to multiple buildings, including the embassies of the United States, France, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Electricity and mobile phone services were also disrupted.

Vanuatu Police declared a state of emergency for seven days to restrict public movement and facilitate search and relief efforts.

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The interior of a damaged building is shown in Port Vila, Vanuatu, following a strong earthquake Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that approximately 116,000 people could be severely affected by the earthquake.

On Tuesday, Vanuatu's state broadcaster VBTC broadcast footage of vehicles crushed by a building collapse on a street lined with retail stores.

Rescue efforts continued throughout the night, with videos on social media showing rescue workers working to free people trapped in collapsed buildings, including a three-story building that collapsed during lunchtime in a crowded downtown area.

Local media reported that rescuers were able to hear the voices of people calling for help inside, but progress was slow.

Michael Thompson, one of the rescuers, posted on Facebook that three people had been recovered alive, including a woman covered in dust who was seen on a stretcher in one of the videos.

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Damaged building in Port Vila, Vanuatu after a strong earthquake Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Prime Minister Charlotte Salloway declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in the worst-hit areas following the earthquake.

Residents have also been advised to avoid the coast for 24 hours until surveillance systems are restored.

The earthquake caused severe damage to the port and airport. The airport has been closed to commercial flights for 72 hours, with only humanitarian flights allowed, as damage to the terminal and runway is being assessed.

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This photo posted from Michael Thompson's Facebook account on December 17, 2024 shows a general view of damage to the building housing the U.S. Embassy in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, after a strong earthquake struck the Pacific island (Michael Thompson's Facebook account) )

A massive landslide also affected the international shipping terminal.

The earthquake struck an area where the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates meet, which is one of the most seismically active areas in the world. “In the century before the December 17, 2024 earthquake, 24 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater occurred within 250 kilometers of this interface,” the USGS said.

Additional reports by agencies

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