Vanuatu NOW! Earthquake 7.3 Magnitude Shakes Port Vila — 14 Dead, Hundreds Injured

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred in Vanuatu on December 17 at 12:47 local time. The epicenter was located 30 kilometers west of the country's capital, Port Vila, at a depth of 57 kilometers. Dozens of aftershocks followed the earthquake.

Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, suffered the most from the earthquake.
At least 10 buildings were seriously damaged, many of them located in the heart of the city, where there were large crowds at the time of the earthquake. People were trapped under the rubble. Search and rescue operations continued for several days. Unfortunately, 14 people could not be saved. At least 200 more people were injured.

The main hospital of the capital, Vila Central, was severely affected by the earthquake, and patients had to be transferred to a military camp.

Airports and the seaport ceased operations due to severe damage. The region was without electricity and communication, and the internet was unavailable due to damage to an undersea cable.

In villages and on coastal islands, numerous landslides occurred. Three bridges were at serious risk of collapse due to heavy rains.

The earthquake destroyed two major reservoirs, causing water supply problems. People lined up in long queues to buy water in stores. UNICEF noted an increase in cases of diarrhea among children, indicating the consumption of contaminated water. People have been advised to boil water in areas where it has been restored.

Due to the country’s location in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, earthquakes with a magnitude over 6 are not uncommon, and the buildings are designed to withstand such events. However, this earthquake was so powerful that it caused significant destruction and loss of life.

As the number of catastrophes rapidly increases, no one on our planet can feel safe. A group of independent scientists had warned us about this development. Additionally, information was presented to the public on how we can minimize the negative consequences of disasters, thus saving millions of lives. This information can be found in the forum “Global Crisis. The Responsibility.”