A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.3 hit Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean in the early hours of December 17. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was centred near Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital. While no initial damage was reported by authorities, several photos and videos surfacing on social media show concerning infrastructure damage.
Magnitude 7.3 Earthquake Hits Port Vila In Vanuatu
Vanuatu is an island nation with a population of about 330,000 people. On Tuesday, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.3 shook the coast of Vanuatu. According to CNBC TV18, the quake occurred at a depth of 57 kilometres and was centred 30 kilometres west of Port Vila, the largest city in the island nation. Furthermore, an aftershock of 5.5 magnitude was felt near the same location.
Initially, the USGS warned of tsunami waves for some coasts. They warned that waves could reach 0.3 meters to 1 meter above the tide level, in the aftermath of the earthquake. However, the warning was later withdrawn. As per several news reports, Australia and New Zealand, both located in the Pacific Ocean, have also confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to their countries.
Also Read: 8 Most Earthquake-Prone Countries In The World
Photos & Videos On Social Media Show Infrastructure Damage
As an aftermath of the earthquake, Vanuatu government websites were offline. So far, there have been no casualties or injuries reported by the authorities. Many netizens have shared photos and videos of major infrastructure damage and even CCTV footage capturing the strong earthquake.
One of the major infrastructure damage reported so far is that of a building housing several foreign embassies in Port Vila. As per The Economic Times, the building housed embassies of the U.S., Britain, France, and New Zealand. A video on X (formerly Twitter) showed collapsed windows and concrete pillars on the building.
Also Read: 5.3 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Telangana On Wednesday; Tremors Felt In Hyderabad
More information about the earthquake is awaited.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/Weathermonitors & X/@Sasbites
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.