By MONIKA SINGH
VANUATU is now in a state of emergency, with reports of 14 confirmed deaths following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the capital, Port Vila, yesterday.
According to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in Vanuatu, more than 200 people were injured, with the numbers expected to rise.
The NDMO also reported that 10 buildings were damaged, which included the United States Embassy, the New Zealand High Commission, and the United Kingdom Embassy.
The Joint Police Operation Centre is assisting with search and rescue operations, including the planned deployment of medical teams equipped with heavy machinery. Efforts to restore power and water supplies are also ongoing, the NDMO added.
Meanwhile, Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, in a statement, said Fiji stands ready to help in any way it can.
“I extend my sincere condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and I wish those injured a quick recovery,” said Mr. Rabuka.
Although Port Vila airport remains closed to commercial flights, aerial assessments are currently underway.
The Head of Delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) Pacific, Katie Greenwood, shared in a post on X that their Emergency Operations Centre was now active, with staff and volunteers working tirelessly to assist those affected by the earthquake.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has also expressed its sympathies to Vanuatu. In an advisory, USP stated that its Emalus Campus would remain closed, following advice from the Campus DISMAC Committee. The closure will enable essential teams to assess and repair damage while national authorities address public infrastructure concerns.
Personnel from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Pacific are on the ground in Vanuatu and are collaborating with the government, civil society organisations, and development partners to support immediate response efforts.
UNICEF, in a social media update, shared that it has already dispatched first aid kits and Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHK) to health facilities. It added that prepositioned supplies, including WASH, child protection, health, ECD, nutrition, and education kits, along with tents and first aid kits, are ready for distribution to reach at least 3,000 people.
The UNICEF Vanuatu field office, comprising 19 staff and consultants, is working with local authorities and partners to assess the extent of the damage and determine response needs.
