A 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu at 12:47 p.m. local time on Tuesday, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and over 200 injuries.
The seismic event was centered 19 miles west of Port Vila, the country’s capital and largest city, and the tremor was followed by multiple strong aftershocks. Tsunami alerts were lifted within two hours of the initial incident.
One structure that sustained significant damage housed diplomatic missions from France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The U.S. embassy issued a statement confirming its personnel were safe, but operations would remain suspended until further notice.
Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced to local media that a seven-day state of emergency had been declared, with certain areas under curfew. Widespread disruptions in utilities and communication networks were reported across the archipelago.
