Live updates: Vanuatu earthquake death toll rises to 14 as locals see 'amazing displays of bravery'

8 minutes ago Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 1:15 am

Long lines for fuel and necessities

Vanuatu's national broadcaster VBTC shows people queuing for fuel and essentials this morning.

20 minutes agoWednesday, December 18, 2024 at 1:03 AM Vanuatu government confirms death toll

The Vanuatu government confirmed that the strong earthquake that struck Vanuatu yesterday claimed the lives of 14 people.

Authorities say four people died at Port Vila Hospital, six of them in a landslide and four in a building collapse, as the death toll is expected to rise.

Agence France-Presse

32 minutes ago Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:51 AM

United Nations estimates indicate that about 116,000 people were affected by the earthquake

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 116,000 people, about a third of the country's population, were affected by the earthquake.

Two buildings — Billabong House and a Chinese shop — have collapsed, and rescuers are trying to save people, says Basil Leodoro, an emergency doctor in Vanuatu with emergency health company Response Global.

Reuters

51 minutes ago Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:32 AM

How are the other islands?

I have family on other islands in Vanuatu, specifically Santo. Do we know the extent of the earthquake's impact on other islands in the archipelago?

– Alice

Hello Alice

The good news is that reports from Santo indicate they are all okay, with some locals saying they felt minor tremors on social media.

Vanuatu consists of about 80 islands, many of which are uninhabited.

The most populated is Efate, where the city of Port Vila is located. About 49,000 people live in Port Vila according to the 2020 census. That island will be the most affected.

Santo is the second most populous city with about 18,000 people in Luganville and as mentioned above, reports from locals say they are doing well.

HELPR1, a health response and logistics support ship based in Vanuatu, is providing assistance on Epi Island, just north of Efate. There were reported to be a number of landslides in Epi but no casualties. HELPR1 is also heading to the nearby Shepherd Islands.

Ebi Island. (Facebook: HELPR1) 1 hour ago Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:15 AM Port Vila Airport is closed to commercial flights

Powerfield International Airport in Port Vila will be closed for 72 hours to all commercial flights, local news service VBTC reports.

The airport will allow relief and medical evacuation flights to land.

Vanuatu Airports CEO Jason Rakau told VBTC that the runway sustained minor damage and was back in operation.

He said the remaining repairs were in the station building and were expected to be completed within the next 72 hours.

If that happens, it is expected that commercial flights will be allowed to resume.

1 hour ago Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:10 AM

Police say some roads and buildings are unsafe to approach

The Vanuatu Police Force provided an update on Facebook.

(Facebook: Vanuatu Police Force)

They say there are some buildings it's not safe to approach and some roads they can't walk on.

(Facebook: Vanuatu Police Force)

They have asked local residents to be extra careful on the roads and not to approach roads that have been blocked by cones.

(Facebook: Vanuatu Police Force)

1 hour agoWednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:06 AM

Watch: Rescue operations in Port Vila

More than 50 people worked throughout the night in rescue efforts, according to local Michael Thompson.

Earlier, Thompson said that three people were rescued after being trapped under the rubble.

1 hour ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:59 pm

Additional assistance likely to be needed: Cashier

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has outlined the aid Australia will send to Vanuatu as it grapples with the impact of two earthquakes, saying he expects more assistance will be requested and provided.

He says the first aid crews heading to Port Vila today will help meet the most urgent needs.

“I really wanted to thank and appreciate the Australian first responders who are leaving Australia today to help the people of Vanuatu after these tragic events,” he says.

“I also wanted to make clear that this is just our initial response. We anticipate that more assistance will be requested and more assistance will be provided.”

1 hour agoTuesday 17 December 2024 at 11:44 PM Australian search and rescue teams have been deployed

Australia is sending immediate aid to Vanuatu today, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.

This will take the form of search and rescue teams as well as medical assistance, Chalmers said.

Today's assistance flights to Vanuatu are here.

Chalmers says this is Australia's initial response and he expects we will provide further assistance to Vanuatu.

“Australia and Vanuatu share a very deep and enduring partnership,” he says.

“We are family and we will be there for them in their time of need.”

1 hour agoTuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:36 PM Auxiliary flights are planned for Vanuatu

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said three flights were scheduled to depart for Vanuatu today, with dates to be confirmed based on arrival at the runway at Port Vila.

Flights are scheduled to depart from:

RAAF Base Amberley, with an urban search and rescue team from Queensland Fire and Rescue Fairbairn, with urban search and rescue personnel from NSW Fire and Rescue, the Australian Federal Police and the DFAT Crisis Response Team. Darwin, with the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) deployed through the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.

2 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:23 pm

Port Vila city center is closed

Adela Issachar Aru, CEO of Vanuatu's Tourism Office, says authorities are advising people not to enter the city area of ​​Port Vila.

“The town area is pretty much off limits,” she told the news channel.

She says the tourism office is working with hotels and resorts, especially those that need to evacuate their buildings.

“There was panic yesterday during and after the accident,” she says.

He added: “There is still panic as of this morning because families say they are still feeling some aftershocks.”

2 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:03 pm

Fears of economic disaster

Glen Craig, chair of the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council, says he expects the Australian and New Zealand military flights to arrive this afternoon.

He added that he hopes commercial flights will resume later today.

“We need commercial flights, you know, to start over,” he says.

“Let's not forget that we are in the peak tourist season and we say to everyone, frankly, don't cancel your holiday [and] Hotels.”

Craig says the resorts are all fine and he expects communications to be back this afternoon.

“We don't need an economic disaster after this happens,” he says.

“And although we don't want to seem insensitive about it, we need, we want, to make sure that in a few days' time, we still have those people who want to come on holiday and experience Vanuatu.”

2 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:45 pm

The Red Cross says the consequences are devastating

Finau Levini is Deputy Head of the Red Cross delegation in Fiji.

She says the scenes in Vanuatu after the earthquake are “absolutely devastating.”

“We already have 14 government-confirmed deaths, and that number is expected to rise,” she told ABC Radio National.

Levene says structural damage was extensive, and water was cut off and electricity was patchy in Port Vila.

More than 200 people were injured, and this number is expected to rise, according to Leviny.

She added that aftershocks are completely normal after a major earthquake, and she hopes “they will not exacerbate existing damage as well as efforts to help respond and recover” from the disaster.

2 hours agoTuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:32 PM Medical assistance and search and rescue teams headed to Port Vila

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told RN Breakfast Australia that medical and search and rescue teams would be sent to Vanuatu to help with earthquake recovery.

Marles could not confirm how many personnel had been sent, but said he was continuing to contact the Vanuatu government to see what additional assistance Australia could provide.

“This is a very important incident and we are concerned about how it will develop,” he told the programme.

He said Australia had experience providing disaster relief in the Pacific and was well placed to help.

3 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:13 pm

The local says there is no way to get updates from the government

Peter Judge is a British economist who has lived in Vanuatu for eight years.

He was about to jump into the resort's pool right before the earthquake hit.

“There have been earthquakes, but nothing like this,” he told ABC's Rachel Hayter on AM.

“Half the pool was immediately transported to the resort, every bottle in the bar was shattered, and people were on the floor.

“Later, I went into town, and I think that's where the major damage occurred.”

The judge says there is no electricity and water in most parts of the city.

“I am able to talk to you via the generator and Starlink, but for almost everyone in Port Vila, they have no way of finding updates from the government on what is happening,” he says.

3 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:05 pm

Communications, airport damage

Hi Ang, My brother and his partner are online at the moment and we haven't been able to connect. Have you heard any update on communications or airport damage? Thanks

-Kate

Hi Kate,

Our thoughts are with your brother and his partner, and we hope for their safety.

We know that there is widespread damage to communications and other infrastructure, which will unfortunately make it difficult for communications to occur.

Vodafone, a major mobile phone service, said its international voice services had been operating for about nine hours.

The other major provider, Digicel, has yet to issue a statement, but we've contacted them to find out more.

As for the airport, the Vanuatu High Commissioner in Canberra has informed that the international airport is closed but we are checking if there is any further damage.

3 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 9:50 pm

Aftershocks around Port Vila

Several aftershocks occurred around Port Vila during the night and throughout the morning.

See map for more details.

3 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 9:36 pm

Reception in Vanuatu is rare

Was it bad? I haven't been able to reach my family at home, so I'm relying on online sources at the moment.

– Miriam

Hello Miriam. Thank you for your question and we understand that this is a difficult time for many families.

Locals told us that reception in Port Vila is rare.

The earthquake destroyed vital infrastructure, including communications lines.

Current advice from the Australian Government is:

Australians requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Center from overseas, call +61 2 6261 3305 In Australia, call 1300 555 135

3 hours ago Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 9:29 pm

Watch: An earthquake shakes the garage

CCTV view shows cars in the garage swaying when the quake struck.

Loading… 4 hours agoTuesday, December 17, 2024 at 9:20 pm “Amazing displays of courage” as survivors are rescued from under the rubble

Three people were rescued from collapsed buildings, according to local business owner Michael Thompson, who was providing updates on search and rescue efforts in Port Vila overnight.

Thompson said there were “incredible displays of bravery” as people trapped under destroyed buildings were carried to safety.

He added that the three people rescued so far are alive, but one of them is in a “very serious condition.”

You can read his full Facebook post here.

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