The island nation of Vanuatu, situated east of Australia, experienced a 7.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of its capital, Port Vila, resulting in significant damage. Reports indicate at least one casualty, though this has not been confirmed by Vanuatu’s authorities.
Footage shows collapsed buildings and crushed cars. The building housing the embassies of the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, and the United States sustained damage.
The earthquake also triggered landslides along Port Vila’s coastline. A local journalist described it as the most severe earthquake he has witnessed in over twenty years on the island.
The epicenter was located approximately 30 kilometers from Port Vila at a depth of around 57 kilometers. Vanuatu consists of about eighty islands in the Pacific Ocean and has a population of over 300,000.
Source: NOS