US Embassy Personnel in Vanuatu Safe after Building Crash

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Vanuatu Earthquake: All Personnel Accounted for And Safe: US Embassy

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, December 17: The US Embassy personnel in Port Vila in Vanuatu have been found safe after the massive earthquake jolted the island nation.

Powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake jolted the Pacific Island Vanuatu on Tuesday. Buildings came crashing down after the powerful jolts hit Port Vila, the island capital.

“All personnel who were in the US Embassy building, in Vanuatu, are safe and accounted for,” said the US Embassy for PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in a media statement. The embassy also stated that “while the building sustained massive damages, the personnel were able to safely evacuate”.

The embassy noted that “building sustained significant damage”. The ill-fated building also had the embassies of the UK and France. The US embassy in Port Vila was inaugurated five months ago.

“The US only opened its embassy in Port Vila, Vanuatu, five months ago. It’s been badly damaged in the earthquake, with any US citizens in Vanuatu needing help asked to contact the embassy in PNG instead,” said Siobhan Heanue in a post on X.

The social media platforms showed footages and videos of the damaged building that housed the embassies of the UK and the US.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) in a report said that the 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Port Vila at 12.47 (local time). The depth of the epicentre was 10 kms per the USGS report.

Report said that the ground floor of the building housing the embassies of the US and the UK had been crushed. Reports also said that casualties were feared after the powerful earthquake jolted the island nation.

“The 7.3 magnitude tremor has caused widespread destruction in the Pacific Island nation. Footage from social media reveals significant damage to a building housing the US, UK, and French embassies, with fears of further devastation,” said John Metzner in a post on X.

Mexico Times in a report stated that “a major earthquake hit the archipelago country of Vanuatu in Oceania. A 7.4 magnitude quake struck 50 kms from Port Vila at a depth of 10 km. Damage has been reported”.

Disaster Daily in an update said that “many injured people” are being treated at the medical centre. It added that “at least four major buildings collapsed and many other had been severely damaged”.

It also stated that “local hospital has issued a call for additional supplies and personnel”. Reports said that internet and other communication networks have been disrupted. Some of the people have set up Starlink facility to address to the emergency situations and carry out the disaster response.

The earthquake caused massive landslides in the coastal areas. Also, reports said that the tremor set off as high as one-meter tsunami, which later calmed down.

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