Rescuers search for survivors after earthquake in Vanuatu

Rescue teams were searching this Wednesday (12/18/2024) for survivors who may have been trapped in collapsed buildings after the powerful earthquake that hit Vanuatu on Tuesday, a small island in the Pacific, where authorities count nine dead, in a review of the deregistration of the last balance sheet. The total number of injured exceeds 200 and the number of missing persons is undetermined.

There are “nine deaths confirmed by the Central Vila hospital,” reported the latest balance released by the national disaster management office, adding that the number could increase. However, this latest report reduced the number of victims downwards, estimated in the previous report at 14 deaths, as indicated by the same administrative office on Tuesday.

Faced with the scream of three people alive under the rubble of a three-story store that collapsed in the capital Port Vila, dozens of police, doctors, first responders and volunteers tried against the clock to remove the rubble. “We got three people out who were trapped. Unfortunately, one of them didn’t make it,” said Michael Thompson, who was present at the scene.

The magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the main island of Vanuatu at 12:47 local time (0147 GMT) on Tuesday, triggering landslides. Authorities declared a seven-day state of emergency “due to the severe impact” of the earthquake. The measure includes a curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. that will be in effect until December 24, in order to respond to the disaster more quickly.

The shaking caused the collapse of the building where the embassies of the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand were located. Officials at the US and French embassies are safe, both countries said. The US mission closed its headquarters until further notice. France said its office was “destroyed.”

Australia sent aid worth 1.2 million euros, and UN agencies have reported being ready to deploy whatever is required. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in its X account that it has already deployed a team on the ground that assists the Vila Central Hospital and the Ministry of Health.