There are fears the death toll from the 7.3 magnitude quake in Vanuatu could rise

STORY: Authorities fear the death toll from Tuesday’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Vanuatu will rise.

Strong aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.1 quake, shook the country overnight, worsening the devastation.

In the Pacific island’s capital, Port Vila, more than a dozen people, including two Chinese nationals, were confirmed dead and over 200 were injured.

The head of UNICEF’s field office in Vanuatu, Eric Durpaire, told Reuters on Wednesday that people were still in collapsed buildings.

“Very, very worrying and worrisome is the condition of the buildings, which have cracks etc. If we suffer too much shock after that, it would be very, very damaging.”

According to the National Disaster Management Office, several buildings in the main town of Port Vila suffered severe structural damage.

Concrete pillars of a building housing the embassies of the United States, Britain, France and New Zealand collapsed.

No casualties were reported.

Videos circulating online show chaotic scenes during the earthquake.

Video from inside a garage shows a door swinging open as three men struggle to steady themselves outside.

UNICEF’s Durpaire has raised concerns about possible water contamination.

“One of the main concerns is the problem of water. We have already seen an increase in children with cases of diarrhea this morning, meaning they have started drinking contaminated water because the water supply has been cut off. And that’s really a big problem. “I don’t know how quickly it could be repaired, but we are now working as UNICEF with the government on the distribution of jerry cans and the procurement and distribution of water.”

Acting Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced that a state of emergency had been declared and international assistance had been requested.

The United States, France and Australia have said they plan to fly in medical teams to provide assistance.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that about a third of Vanuatu’s population has been affected by the earthquake.