A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, causing significant damage, including to the U.S. Embassy and several other foreign missions in and around the capital city.
According to reports, the building housing the embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand sustained severe structural damage, with buckled windows and collapsed concrete pillars.
“An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila on Tuesday, damaging buildings and cars with at least one person reported killed,” Reuters reported.
“Vanuatu state broadcaster VBTC showed footage of vehicles crushed in a building collapse on a street lined with retailers. The broadcaster reported one person had been trapped in a collapsed building,” it added.
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s foreign ministry confirmed the destruction, stating that their High Commission, which shares the facility with other diplomatic missions, was heavily impacted.
Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Vanuatu, described a grim scene in the aftermath of the earthquake. “I saw three people seriously injured on gurneys awaiting treatment,” he said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He also reported extensive damage throughout the city, including a building that had completely collapsed.
The island nation of Vanuatu, a former colony jointly governed by Britain and France until gaining independence in 1980, is situated in a region prone to seismic activity.
This latest quake underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the people of Vanuatu as they navigate both natural disasters and the demands of maintaining their resilience.
