The death toll from the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Vanuatu on Tuesday has climbed to fourteen as rescue teams race against time to locate survivors buried under rubble.
The tremor has left 200 others injured, while powerful aftershocks continue to rattle the region.
Authorities in Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital, have declared a seven-day state of emergency, restricting public movement to facilitate search and rescue efforts.
The earthquake caused widespread destruction, damaging key buildings, including the embassies of the US, France, the UK, and New Zealand, and disrupting power and mobile services.
The Vanuatu government confirmed that four people died in hospital in Port Vila, while six fatalities resulted from a landslide.
Another four deaths occurred when a building collapsed, with officials warning that the toll may rise as search operations continue.
Among the dead were two Chinese nationals, according to China’s Ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 116,000 people could be impacted by the quake’s devastating effects.
Neighboring Australia has pledged to send search and rescue teams, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles confirmed on Wednesday.
The US and France have also promised to assist Vanuatu in managing the crisis.
Images shared by Vanuatu Police revealed rescuers clawing through rubble, using tools like jackhammers, grinders, and concrete saws in an effort to free survivors.
From one collapsed three-story building, faint voices were reportedly heard, sparking hope that more lives could be saved.
At least ten buildings in Port Vila suffered significant structural damage, according to the government’s disaster management office.
Photos from the scene show debris-strewn streets, cracked roads, and closed businesses, as residents scoured for essential supplies amidst the chaos.
The earthquake struck at 12:47 p.m. local time 01:47 GMT) on Tuesday, briefly triggering a tsunami warning.
