Amidst the rubble: Stories of kindness emerge in the wake of the Vanuatu earthquake

Tuesday's 7.3-magnitude quake — the strongest to hit Vanuatu in more than a century — killed up to 14 people and injured more than 200, shaking the Pacific island nation to its core.

However, amid the wreckage, stories of human kindness are beginning to unfold, proving that even in the darkest moments, the spirit of solidarity shines through.

“No matter what, you can have my room.”

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Australian property manager Henry Sia was about to board a flight back to Sydney with his partner after a holiday in Vanuatu when the earthquake suddenly disrupted their plans.

Stranded at the airport, staff quickly arranged for a local driver to guide them to higher ground.

When the tsunami threat seemed to have passed, the driver took them back to their hotel.

“He didn’t ask where we were from. He took us straight to higher ground and then to the door of our hotel,” Sia said.

“He is a nice person. He only thought about saving lives, without asking for anything in return.

However, the original hotel only hosted them for one night, and refused any further accommodation because there was no food or water left for the guests.

Objects were scattered on the ground after the earthquake shook shops in Vanuatu. Credit: Victoria Chen/Supplied

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Local residents and tourists rushed to higher ground for fear of a possible tsunami following the 7.3-magnitude earthquake.

Local residents and tourists rushed to higher ground for fear of a possible tsunami following the 7.3-magnitude earthquake.

Desperate and exhausted, they turned to the Australian High Commission in Port Vila, hoping for a lifeline.

There they met a fellow tourist, a woman from New Zealand who was injured during the earthquake.

After learning that they had no place to stay, she told them, “No matter what, you can have my room.”

“We've faced some tough moments, but we've also encountered some kindness along the way.” Sia said, remembering the gesture with gratitude.

Thanks to her, Siya and his partner were directed to the hotel where she was staying.

They were given shelter there, along with more than 30 other stranded Australians, awaiting repatriation by the Australian government.

A local driver helps reunite the family

Rocky Zhang and his family of four are also staying in the same hotel, and are among many people stranded, anxiously awaiting their next steps.

In the chaos that followed the earthquake, they also encountered moments of kindness.

Infrastructure was destroyed after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu. Credit: Victoria Chen/Supplied

When the massive earthquake occurred, everyone rushed to the top of a large hill, fearing a possible tsunami.

But Zhang and his wife, Miranda, had a different priority: They were desperate to get back to the hotel, where their two children were waiting.

“We were so worried and determined to get back to the hotel, I didn't care if the tsunami was coming or not,” Miranda said.

The hotel was only a ten minute drive away, but almost all the drivers refused to leave the safety of the hill to take them back to the hotel.

Finally, someone was willing to help.

A local driver, on his way to check on his family, heard that Zhang and his wife needed to reach their children and immediately agreed to help.

Not only did he take them to the hotel, but after taking their children, he led the whole family to his house, which was located at a higher and safer altitude.

“He didn't ask for a higher price, and he didn't even discuss money with us. He just agreed to help us right away,” Zhang said. “His name was Jeremy.”

Cracks in the road caused by the strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Vanuatu. Credit: Victoria Chen / Supplied 'I never thought about going to hospital'

Only the Zhang and Sia families met at the hotel, but they both made the decision not to add any additional pressure to the hospital system, despite their injuries.

In doing so they also became symbols of kindness and selflessness.

Miranda, for example, was injured during the earthquake.

She recalled how the violent earthquake caused her and her husband to fall to the ground, causing them to fall into the path of a passing car.

Despite their shaking, the car managed to stop in time, and Zhang's head was only inches from the car's front bumper.

In the ensuing chaos, Miranda sprained her ankle and suffered other minor injuries, but the couple decided not to go to the already overcrowded hospital.

“We never thought about going to the hospital, actually. I don't want to burden the system any further,” she said.

Vanuatu's humid climate made the situation worse, as Miranda's ankle became infected.

Fortunately, they were able to obtain some antibiotics from the Australian Embassy, ​​which helped her recover enough to stop limping.

The wall was damaged by falling bricks, following the 7.3 magnitude Vanuatu earthquake Credit: Victoria Chen / Supplied

Seiya also found some medical supplies in an abandoned hotel and treated himself with a first aid kit, although the medicines inside had long expired.

“With such a strong earthquake, a very large number of people are injured, and many of them are in serious condition,” Zhang said, ignoring their injuries.

“What we have are just minor things. Many others are in a much worse situation.

The kindness of local Vanuatu

The kindness shown by the locals also cannot be overlooked, shared by Victoria Chen, a Sydney-based lawyer who was on holiday in Vanuatu with her mother.

Chen and her mother arrived a day before the quake, and were also trying to get to higher ground after the quake.

Despite the chaos and fear, local residents, who had already rushed towards the hill in search of safety, urged Chen and her mother to follow them.

“They all said there might be a tsunami after this huge earthquake,” Victoria said.

“They told us, ‘You have to go higher.’”

With communications down at the time, they were unable to confirm whether the tsunami warning was still in effect.

After waiting for about 20 minutes and seeing that the sea had calmed, they decided to return to the hotel, which surprisingly remained safe and sound, unlike the other buildings they had seen on the way back.

Broken glass is scattered on the floor after a glass door was broken during the 7.3 magnitude Vanuatu earthquake. Credit: Victoria Chen/Supplied

“We were lucky that the hotel was able to fix the Wi-Fi, so we could get updates and send messages,” Victoria said.

The owner, a local woman from Vanuatu, visited them every morning, bringing them food and water.

“It's more than enough. Even if there are 20 more people here, that will be enough,” Chen joked.

Tourists in Vanuatu continue to wait for aid

Vanuatu has witnessed numerous aftershocks since the strong earthquake that occurred on Tuesday.

Most areas still lack communications, electricity and clean water as the country struggles to rebuild from the devastation.

Chen said stores have reopened as people try to go on with their lives, but they kept their iron doors closed, leaving only a small opening to exchange money and goods, fearing the risk of theft.

Two Royal Australian Air Force aircraft have repatriated nearly 300 Australians stranded in Vanuatu, but there are still many more waiting.

Sia and Zhang's family expressed their understanding, saying the government was prioritizing hotels with the worst conditions.

“We are waiting patiently,” they said.

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