The death toll remains unclear as first aid arrives

Amid the devastation caused by the violent earthquake two days ago, Ivan Oswald and his staff prepared at the Nambawan Café on an idyllic stretch of Vanuatu's waterfront today for a lunchtime mass.

The usual lunchtime rush menu has been replaced by melted sausages, prepared for emergency workers searching through the rubble for those who were trapped alive or killed in buildings flattened when a massive 7.3-magnitude tremor struck Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, 48 years ago. hour. The search crews were joined today by specialists who arrived in batches from Australia, New Zealand and France.

Earthquakes are normal for the South Pacific nation of 80 islands and 330,000 people, but Tuesday's horrific tremor was unlike anything they had ever felt before. The epicenter of the earthquake was 30 kilometers offshore, at a depth of 57 kilometers, and the earthquake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

The death toll remains uncertain

At least 14 people died after the 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred on Tuesday. (Source: 1 News)

The death toll remains unclear and official information remains scarce.

The government initially confirmed that 14 people had been killed. She said yesterday that nine people had been verified by the hospital – but officials expected the number to rise. More than 200 wounded were treated, an official number that has not been updated for more than a day.

Today, telecommunications – although gradual and incomplete – have been restored on a larger scale after an almost complete power outage following the earthquake. It provided the people of Vanuatu with answers about the extent of the damage and the number of people missing.

As word spread that Nambawan had authority and an independent Internet source, rescuers, tourists and locals visited to charge devices and try to locate their relatives.

Josephine Taut makes sausages for emergency workers at Nambawan Cafe in Port Vila, Thursday, December 19, 2024, following a strong earthquake that struck the South Pacific coast of Vanuatu. (Source: Evan Oswald via AP)

“We shed some tears,” said cafe owner Oswald. “I can't help with the rescue, but I can help with this.”

The damage was concentrated in the capital

Damage to the interior of the Nambawan Cafe in Port Vila, following the strong earthquake that struck off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. (Source: Evan Oswald via AP)

The extent of the devastation has become more apparent today. The worst affected area was Port Vila city centre, which was crowded with shoppers at lunchtime on Tuesday. Some remote islands and villages near the epicenter of the earthquake witnessed landslides.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said late yesterday that damage to infrastructure was widespread, including hospitals, roads, buildings, two main water tanks and gas pipelines. Response efforts have been hampered by access problems.

The UN agency said a massive landslide closed the seaport, limiting the transport of essential supplies and personnel. The airport was open for humanitarian use only today, but the runway has been deemed operational and commercial flights will be considered for resumption tomorrow.

Concerns about water and damage to buildings

Aid agencies told The Associated Press on Wednesday that their biggest concerns were about drinking water and shelter for those who cannot return home. The main utility provider, UNELCO, said it could take two weeks to fully restore water service, according to the Vanuatu Broadcasting Corporation.

While the search for survivors and the recovery of bodies has focused on two collapsed buildings in the city centre, homes and businesses across Port Vila need structural checks by engineers before they can be used again.

Australian search experts today joined local residents digging hard for people screaming from collapsed buildings. Residents said that after the dramatic rescue operations of survivors covered in dust, which raised morale on Tuesday and yesterday, the mood had become darker about the future of those trapped.

It was not known how many people remained in the buildings, which are a garage and a surf shop. China's official Xinhua News Agency, citing Gu Zihua, an official at the Chinese embassy in Vanuatu, reported that among the dead were Chinese citizens.

Economic blow

In this photo released by the Australian Department of Defence, Australians step off a plane at RAAF Base Amberley, Australia after a flight home from Port Vila, Vanuatu, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, following a strong earthquake off the coast of Vanuatu. In the South Pacific (Source: Associated Press)

Another building housing the embassies of several countries – including the United States, France and New Zealand – also collapsed, but no injuries were reported. Military flights evacuated 148 Australian citizens from Vanuatu late yesterday.

Glen Craig, head of the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council, said the earthquake at the start of the summer season in the tourism-reliant island nation threatened an economic crisis if tourists did not return.

“We've had very bad luck,” Craig said, referring to the three cyclones that struck in 2023 and the collapse of Vanuatu's national airline in May. “We were just getting back on our feet and were really looking forward to an eventful summer.”

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