Vanuatu continues to rebuild one year after the devastating earthquake

“Our people have shown the world what resilience means, not as a slogan, but as a reality of living,” Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat said this week.

As the Pacific nation marks one year since a 7.3-magnitude earthquake killed 14 people and destroyed buildings across the capital, Port Vila, Nabat praised his people's ability to recover.

He said: “You have shown greater courage than the tragedy that befell us.”

The December 2024 earthquake struck Efate Island, Vanuatu's main population centre, upending the lives of an estimated 80,000 people – about a quarter of Vanuatu's population.

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Basic services were disrupted for weeks after the country's main hospital, dozens of schools, and two main reservoirs were severely damaged.

Even after 12 months, many of the demolished buildings have yet to be rebuilt, and some local residents are frustrated with the pace of repairs.

“After the earthquake, our sales slowly started to recover,” said Ruth Farry, a vendor at the handicrafts market in Port Vila.

“Vanuatu’s rebuilding process is well underway but slow.”

Ruth Farry says her livelihood has not fully recovered from the quake. (ABC News: Lilrose Wellwell)

Fear of future earthquakes 'ever present'

Life returns to normal on the streets of Port Vila.

The Vanuatu Red Cross Society said most displaced families had returned home, although many families were still rebuilding “with support from conditional cash assistance and shelter.”

Foreign visitors are back – and Vanuatu's tourism office expects 125 cruise ships to visit in early 2026.

Australian tourist Ashley Bissell said it was her first time visiting Vanuatu, and that she had heard about the impact of the earthquake before her arrival.

“I think it's really beautiful here. I love the beaches,” she said.

Vanuatu authorities expect 125 cruise ships to visit the country in early 2026. (ABC News: Lillyrose Welwel)

Local business leader Lopez Adams said that in addition to cruises, Vanuatu receives a lot of tourists by air.

“Unfortunately, Port Vila’s central business district is not as vibrant,” he said.

“We need to bring some life back to downtown.”

Some government buildings remain closed for 12 months, and empty plots where buildings once stood are a regular reminder of what we have lost.

Polly Banks, Save the Children's country director, said the trauma of the 2024 earthquake still lingers for the people of Vanuatu.

Polly Banks says many school classrooms in the country have not yet been rebuilt. (attached)

“The Pacific region is well-versed in hurricane preparedness. It's a good time to prepare, take cover and do all the right things,” she said.

“But of course, in the event of an earthquake, you can't prepare in the same way because of how quickly earthquakes happen.

“I think the constant fear is always there.”

A crushed car was seen under the rubble of a collapsed building in Port Vila after the 7.3 magnitude earthquake. (AFP: Michael Thompson/Archive)

Cyril Mengi, a structural engineer and vice-president of the Vanuatu Society of Engineers, has helped inspect damaged buildings since the quake.

“I lost my cousin here,” he said. “Everything we build must protect lives.”

“We lost 14 people. Even one life is too much. Buildings must not collapse.

“The building code means nothing if it is not enforced.”

People place candles at a memorial for victims of the 2024 Vanuatu earthquake. (ABC News: Lilyrose Wilwell)

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the earthquake had exposed Vanuatu's long-standing vulnerabilities, including “aging buildings, limited enforcement of safety standards, overwhelmed local authorities, and increasing urban pressures.”

“Let us commit – every one of us – to building homes, communities, towns and cities where our children can grow up in safety, with dignity and opportunity,” Mr Nabat said.

The government signed various construction agreements, including an $85 million package with China.

Children are still learning in makeshift classrooms

A massive landslide in Vanuatu's main international port remains a bottleneck to the recovery of trade and tourism.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) this week announced a US$24.4 million ($36.8 million) grant to rehabilitate Port Vila Quay Road, helping to “restore access to vital roads leading to the quays.”

“Reconnecting the Outer Islands and Port Vila through the rehabilitation of the quay road to restore access will positively impact people’s lives, stimulate tourism, as well as trade across local communities,” said the bank’s Pacific Regional Director, Jyotsana Varma.

A landslide buried part of the main road leading to the Port Vila jetty. (Supplied: Dan McGarry/File)

“This project represents the Asian Development Bank’s commitment to supporting high-quality disaster-resilient infrastructure in the Pacific region,” she said.

Vanuatu is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to natural disasters.

The Pacific island nation was struck by twin hurricanes Jody and Kevin — and a 6.5-magnitude earthquake — within days in March 2023.

Ms Banks, Save the Children, said Vanuatu had not fully recovered from those disasters when the December 2024 earthquake struck.

UNICEF workers set up a tent after the Vanuatu earthquake. (Supplied: UNICEF)

She added that many Ni-Vanuatu children continued to learn in temporary classrooms as the process of rebuilding schools continued.

“Schools have been damaged or destroyed throughout Port Vila and surrounding communities,” Ms Banks said.

“UNICEF and Save the Children prepared the tents very quickly, but it is clearly not comfortable to learn in tents where there is a lot of rain in the hot tropical climate.

“In the meantime… children remain in designated facilities, which of course does not create an appropriate and dignified learning environment for children.”

Two women embrace next to a memorial to victims of the Vanuatu earthquake. (ABC News: Lilrose Wellwell)

Nabat said what lies ahead will require an “entire national effort” to ensure safety standards and reconstruction with stronger infrastructure are observed.

“It is not a short journey,” he said. “But it is the only path that honors the lives affected and protects future generations.”

“When we remember those we have lost, we turn our grief into purpose.”

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