A 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes the Pacific Ocean… causing deaths on the island of Vanuatu
The quake occurred at a depth of 57 kilometers (35 miles), and was epicentered near Port Vila, the island nation’s largest city.
Initial damage to a diplomatic building
Another video appears to show a building in the capital that houses some of the diplomatic missions to Vanuatu, including those of Britain, France and New Zealand, and its structure has sustained some damage, including twisted windows and debris that has collapsed from the walls to the floor.
Other photos and videos published on Tuesday showed objects and shelves that had fallen to the floors of shops, and landslides that may have closed some roads. Authorities in Australia and New Zealand, located in the Pacific Ocean, said there was no tsunami threat to their countries.
7.3 An earthquake has hit Vanuatu, an island east of Australia.
In this video is the American Embassy. It collapsed with people inside.
The island has suffered massive damage.
Pray for the victims and their families.
pic.twitter.com/iwZ338kYYm— Paul A. Szypula(@Bubblebathgirl) December 17, 2024
Serious damage to infrastructure
Michael Thompson, a resident of Port Via, said in a satellite phone call after he posted pictures on social media sites documenting some of the destruction resulting from the earthquake that the ground floor of a building housing the American and French embassies was crushed under the upper floors.
The earthquake led to the collapse of bridges, caused landslides, and caused severe damage to buildings, while communications were cut off in large parts of the archipelago.
According to the American Seismological Institute, the epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 43 km below sea level and only 30 km west of Port Via.
Tsunami warning cancelled
Following the earthquake, the center said that “high tsunami waves were detected,” and it was expected that the earthquake would cause tsunami waves reaching a height of one meter in parts of the coast of Vanuatu.
It was also expected that tsunami waves with a height of less than 30 centimeters above tide level would occur in island countries in the Pacific Ocean, including especially Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
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