Photos| Massive damage to embassies on the island of Vanuatu after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake

Embassies in the country of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, were severely damaged by the earthquake that struck the island with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale, today, Tuesday.
The US Geological Survey said that the epicenter of the earthquake was about 30 kilometers west of Port Vila, the largest city and capital of Vanuatu, and at a depth of about 57 kilometers (35 miles).
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, said that his country’s embassy is located in the same location as the embassies of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, and that it suffered severe damage.
The United States said that its embassy had also “suffered serious damage” and that it had closed its doors until further notice.

The two countries expressed their concern about the local population and expressed their willingness to extend a helping hand.
Peters tweeted on the social networking site X: “New Zealand is extremely concerned about the major earthquake in Vanuatu and the damage it has caused… Our thoughts are with the people and authorities of Vanuatu.”
Peters stressed: “We are ready to assist Vanuatu and respond to requests for assistance.”
A statement issued by the US mission in Papua New Guinea also confirmed the same position. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this earthquake, and the US government will work closely with our partners in Vanuatu,” the statement read.
The earthquake caused serious damage to infrastructure and buildings in the capital, Port Via, one of which was a building housing the American and French embassies, while an eyewitness confirmed deaths as a result of the disaster.
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

The Pacific Tsunami Early Warning Center announced to the authorities that the threat of a tsunami had passed after it had issued a warning in this regard.
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.