New Zealanders have been evacuated from Vanuatu after the devastating earthquake

A number of New Zealanders have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake rocked the Pacific island nation earlier this week.

The death toll remains unclear, although at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from the Vanuatu government.

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake occurred on Tuesday, injuring more than 200 people.

A flight carrying 93 passengers, almost all New Zealanders and their families, left Port Vila at about 7.45pm New Zealand time, the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) said late last night.

“A small number of foreign nationals are also being assisted on this flight,” New Zealand Forces said.

Pacific correspondent Barbara Drever reported that researchers are racing against time to find survivors under the rubble. (Source: Iftar)

Foreign Secretary Winston Peters confirmed the flight's arrival overnight.

“We are pleased to have 93 people evacuated from Port Vila on the NZDefenceForce flight overnight,” he wrote on X at around 5.30am this morning.

“Most of the passengers were New Zealanders and their families, but they also included about a dozen foreign nationals from Samoa, the United Kingdom, Singapore, France and Finland.

“Our consular team continues to assist New Zealanders affected by the earthquake in Vanuatu.”

Any Kiwis still in Vanuatu are urged to contact MFAT on +64 99 20 20 20.

“New Zealand's efforts to assist Vanuatu in its earthquake response, by providing personnel and relief supplies, are continuing,” Peters said.

MFAT earlier said that a consular team had been deployed to Port Vila to support the trip.

“A second consular team will facilitate passengers’ arrival in Auckland and provide assistance on arrival, including accommodation information.

“MFAT's emergency call center will operate throughout the night to contact New Zealanders remaining in Vanuatu to assess their needs.”

1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Drever is in Vanuatu. She told Breakfast this morning that aftershocks were still shaking the country, making search efforts more difficult.

“Our team has teamed up with the Australians to make the most of this very small window they now have to find survivors.

“Time is not on their side, so they have to make the most of it,” she added.

“The situation remains very volatile, we have spoken to some very distressed people who are trying to return to their homes.”

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