14 dead, dozens injured as powerful earthquake strikes Vanuatu

Rescue efforts continued in Vanuatu on Wednesday after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific nation’s capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday. The disaster killed at least 14 people, with over 200 injured and many trapped under rubble, news reports indicated, adding that rescue teams focused on freeing those still trapped, particularly at the collapsed Billabong House and a Chinese store.

The earthquake caused widespread damage, including to reservoirs, commercial buildings, embassies, and a hospital. Aftershocks, including a 6.1 magnitude tremor, rattled the region throughout the night. Many buildings, including those housing foreign embassies, were severely damaged.

A state of emergency has been declared, and a seven-day curfew has been imposed in the worst-hit areas. International assistance has been requested, with Australia and New Zealand sending teams and supplies. The U.N. estimates that around 116,000 people, one-third of Vanuatu’s population, have been affected.

Vanuatu, a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, consisting of a chain of 13 principal and many smaller islands located about 500 miles (800 km) west of Fiji and 1,100 miles (1,770 km) east of Australia.