A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake shakes Vanuatu

A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila, damaging buildings and other infrastructure.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at 12:47 local time (01:47 GMT) at a depth of 57.1 km.

It briefly triggered a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific island nation, but at 2:14 p.m. local time, officials said the danger had passed.

The extent of the damage remains unclear, but there are unconfirmed reports of at least one death.

Dan McGarry, a Port Vila-based journalist, said police at Vila Central Hospital told him one person had died.

In a post on X, McGarry said he saw three “seriously injured” people on stretchers awaiting treatment. The earthquake was the “biggest one I have seen in over 20 years,” he added.

Footage on social media shows collapsed buildings, cars hit by fallen panels and furniture strewn on the floor of homes. Residents report patchy communication.

The US Embassy in Port Vila is among the damaged buildings, according to photos published online.

U.S. officials said the building suffered “significant damage” and would remain closed until further notice.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this earthquake, and the U.S. government will work closely with our partners in Vanuatu,” the embassy in Papua New Guinea said in a statement.

Michael Thompson, director of adventure company Vanuatu Jungle Zipline, told AFP he saw bodies lying on the road.

“Several buildings collapsed in the city. There is a major rescue operation underway to evacuate anyone who may be alive from the building,” Thompson said in a separate video posted to Facebook.

“Most of the communication is gone.”

USGS reported at least four aftershocks around Port Vila in the two hours after the initial earthquake – with magnitudes between 4.7 and 5.5.

Authorities in neighboring New Zealand and Australia said their countries were not at risk of a tsunami.

Australia also said it “stands ready to support Vanuatu while the extent of the damage is assessed.”

“Vanuatu is a family and we will always be there for each other in times of need,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong wrote on X.

Vanuatu, a low-lying archipelago of about 80 islands, lies in a seismically active area and is prone to frequent large earthquakes and other natural disasters.