The United States has temporarily closed its embassy in Vanuatu after a powerful earthquake caused “significant damage” to the building.
The embassy, located in the capital Port Vila, was rendered uninhabitable due to the quake.
The US Embassy in Papua New Guinea confirmed the closure in a social media post, offering thoughts and support to those affected by the disaster.
Fortunately, all personnel present in the embassy during the earthquake were confirmed to be safe and accounted for.
The building, which also houses several other diplomatic missions, including those from the UK, France, and New Zealand, sustained heavy damage.
New Zealand’s High Commission, located in the same building, also reported significant structural damage.
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The earthquake struck at 12:47 PM local time (1:47 AM Irish time), with a magnitude of 7.3 and a depth of 57 kilometers, just off the coast of Efate, the main island of Vanuatu.
A powerful aftershock of magnitude 5.5 followed shortly after, accompanied by a series of smaller tremors.
A tsunami warning was issued immediately after the earthquake, forecasting waves of up to one meter, but the warning was later lifted by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Despite the tsunami threat dissipating, the quake caused significant damage to buildings, with streets in Port Vila strewn with broken glass and debris.
Vanuatu, an island nation in the Pacific, is known for its vulnerability to natural disasters due to its position along the “Ring of Fire,” an area with intense seismic activity.
Earthquakes and other natural calamities are common in the region, and this earthquake has again highlighted the nation’s exposure to such risks.
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, expressed solidarity with Vanuatu, offering assistance.
“Vanuatu is family, and we will always be there in times of need,” she stated, reaffirming Australia’s readiness to support its Pacific neighbor in the aftermath of the disaster.