A second earthquake has hit Vanuatu, a day after a strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Port Vila.
Yesterday’s quake severely damaged several buildings in the capital, crushing cars, and briefly triggering a tsunami warning.
14 lives have been confirmed as lost.
World Vision’s Vanuatu country director says electricity and water are still affected in Port Vila and strategic bridges connecting the city are damaged, nearly 24 hours after the initial earthquake.
Earlier this morning, a quake of magnitude 5.5 struck again. Witnesses have appealed for help, describing chaotic scenes, widespread damage, and people trapped in the rubble.
World Vision’s Clement Chipokolo said the aftershocks are making everyone more vulnerable.
“We’re still out of electricity; we’re out of water as well and most of the stores are closed,” Chipokolo said.
“We have queues that are forming in the stores that are open for people to get essentials, especially water.”
He said the main priority is to recover those buried under rubble and recover bodies, while service providers were frantically trying to restore water and power.
“There are a number of compromised strategic bridges that are very essential for connecting the town those are the ones that I’m worried about for now.”
Chipokolo said phone lines are now up and running but there is no internet connectivity. He said the public is starting to come to grips with what happened.
“I think we did not really gauge the scale of the impact, but now the public are sucking it in – how much we went through yesterday and by extension today.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated 116,000 people had been affected by the quake.
Dan McGarry, a Port Vila-based journalist, described the earthquake on the social media platform as a ‘high-frequency vertical shake’ that lasted about 30 seconds, adding that power was out around the city.
Pacific Islands ready to help Vanuatu rebuild and recover
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) family has extended its thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the government and the people of Vanuatu.
“The Forum stands ready to assist and offer support to Vanuatu during this very difficult time,” says PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his government’s deepest sympathies to the people of Vanuatu.
“We pray for the safe evacuation and well-being of all those affected by this disaster, and we extend our deepest empathies to those who have lost loved ones,” he says. “Fiji is prepared to assist Vanuatu in any way possible,” he adds.
Fiji Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has urged everyone to come together, offering support and assistance in helping Vanuatu rebuild and recover.
Due to damage to the airport terminal and runway in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Fiji Airways has announced that its flight scheduled to arrive in Port Vila at 1800hrs on December 18th will only proceed once it is confirmed safe and feasible to do so.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says they are assisting.
“A New Zealand military surveillance plane is due to fly above Vanuatu this morning, to help assess the damage caused by the earthquake,” Peters said.
“We are also offering to send an urban search and rescue team and relief supplies to Vanuatu later today, once the airport in Port Vila has re-opened. New Zealand emergency medical, civil defence, consular and humanitarian officials will also deploy as part of this operation.”