<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335508</docID> <postdate>2024-12-17 16:06:32</postdate> <headline>Major damage, deaths feared in Vanuatu earthquake</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-335509" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax-1-1.webp" alt="" width="800" height="600" /></p> <caption>A magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck off the coast of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. (HANDOUT/GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Ben McKay</b> in Darwin</span></p> <p><strong>A mass casualty event is feared in Port Vila, after a major earthquake struck Vanuatu's capital, destroying buildings.</strong></p> <p>A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck just off the coast of Vanuatu's major island of Efate on Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>Locals reported on social media feeling violent shaking for around 30 seconds.</p> <p>Posts to social media, which AAP is yet to verify, show seriously damaged buildings, including the US Embassy, which appears to have collapsed onto the first floor.</p> <p>Dan McGarry, a Vanuatu-based journalist, said there was no doubt there had been casualties from the tremor.</p> <p>"There are buildings down here so I'm expecting the casualty figure to rise," he told AAP.</p> <p>"I know of one fatality according to police stationed at Port Vila Central Hospital, and I saw with my own eyes three others on gurneys, several others walking around, walking wounded.</p> <p>"I think it will probably be in the dozens, altogether dead and wounded."</p> <p>The earthquake also impacted communications, with AP reporting government websites were offline in the immediate aftermath of the tremor, as are local media outlets.</p> <p>"There is limited connectivity through one of our telecommunications carriers, the other one is entirely offline and power is out through the entire capital," Mr McGarry said.</p> <p>Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a post on X that the Australian government is closely monitoring the situation in Vanuatu following the quake.</p> <p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers, speaking to media shortly after the disaster, said the earthquake was "very serious" and "very troubling".</p> <p>"I'm confident I speak on behalf of all Australians when I say that we are thinking of the wonderful people of Vanuatu," he said.</p> <p>A tsunami threat to Australia and New Zealand was cleared by authorities in both countries.</p> <p>The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 57km according to American earthquake monitors the United States Geological Survey (USGS).</p> <p>Smaller aftershocks, including one of 5.5 magnitude, followed in the similar location.</p> <p>The island nation lies on the "Ring of Fire", a 40,000km seismically active arc around the rim of the Pacific tectonic plate.</p> <p>"Vanuatu is situated, like New Zealand, on top of a subduction zone," University of Auckland physics associate professor Kasper van Wijk said.</p> <p>"This particular earthquake was shallow and close to Port Vila, so I expect there to be significant damage from the earthquake."</p> </body>