Vanuatu death toll expected to rise after earthquake plunges country into state of emergency | Vanuatu

A second earthquake has hit the Vanuatu islands amid an international search and rescue operation following Tuesday’s deadly quake.

Because communications were disrupted, the official death toll was not yet known. However, at least 14 people were reportedly killed and 200 were treated for injuries, according to Katie Greenwood, a Fiji-based regional director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

While the full extent of the devastation in Vanuatu remains unclear, Australia is among the countries providing aid to the earthquake-hit Pacific nation.

At midday on Tuesday, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook Port Vila for 30 seconds, causing destruction in the capital.

According to the German Research Center for Geosciences, a second earthquake of magnitude 5.5 occurred on Wednesday morning.

Many photos on social media show collapsed buildings, one with crumpled cars underneath.

“People died and many more were injured. Some have lost their homes and many will find it difficult to return to work. Repairs will likely take years, as is always the case after a disaster,” said Dan McGarry, a journalist.

“But people are pulling together like only Vanuatu can. We will get through this. We always do.”

Those who were able to communicate with the outside world were largely able to do so via Starlink, including McGarry.

“According to the police stationed at the Port Vila Central Hospital, I know of one death and I have seen with my own eyes three more on stretchers… I expect the number of victims to rise,” he said about three hours later the earthquake.

McGarry has documented landslides around the capital, including a major blockage of a major road near the country’s main international port, as well as the destruction of buildings.

Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, said the government was preparing to provide immediate assistance to Vanuatu today.

In London, she said Australia would send emergency medical teams and urban search and rescue units to the island. A hotline has been set up to help Australians who may be affected by the disaster.

“We will provide any assistance required. “I say to the people of Vanuatu: you are family and Australia is here to help,” she said.

A building housing the diplomatic missions of the United States, United Kingdom, France and New Zealand was the worst hit, with the lower floor of the U.S. Embassy crushed by the floors above.

The United States and other nations have reported that all of their employees are safe.

“Many victims in the country, flights suspended, communications interrupted, no water and electricity, we are organizing help,” French Ambassador to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, Jean-Baptiste Jeangene Vilmer, posted on social media.

In a broadcast on news channel VBTC, Acting Prime Minister Charlot Salwai declared a seven-day state of emergency and imposed a curfew – except for essential services – from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Vanuatu consists of more than 80 islands, and it is also unclear how the population of 350,000 in cities and settlements outside the capital is faring.

Jeangene Vilmer said France was working with Australia and New Zealand to coordinate disaster relief.

The disaster also occurred at a time of political unrest in the Melanesian country.

Salwai dissolved parliament last month, setting the stage for early elections on January 14, but opposition MPs launched a constitutional challenge to his move.

While an initial case was dismissed by the Supreme Court last week, former prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau has said he will appeal the ruling – which was due to be heard before Christmas.

– with Reuters