Port Vila Archive – Vulkane Net Newsblog

Strong Mw 7.4 earthquake hit Vanuatu and caused extensive damage in the capital Port Vila

Date 12/17/24 | Time: 01:47:24 UTC | Coordinates: -17,666 ; 168,092 | Depth: 28 km | Mw 7.4

A very strong earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred last night at 01:47:24 UTC (12:47:24 local time) just off the west coast of Efate Island in Vanuatu. The epicenter was located 25 km west of the capital Port Vila and the focal depth was 28 kilometers. Despite the comparatively great depth of the hypocenter, a tsunami alarm was triggered, but has since been canceled. Previously, coastal communities on several islands in the archipelago were evacuated. Since strong aftershocks are feared, evacuation measures remain in place for the time being. There have also already been several moderately strong aftershocks.

At least one fatality and numerous seriously injured people – triage center set up

According to initial reports, there was significant damage to buildings in the capital, including government buildings and embassies. Several landslides buried roads and blocked a pier at the harbor. In addition, electricity and water supplies failed. Telecommunications are also disrupted and the Vanuatu Geological Survey website is offline.

At least one fatality has been officially confirmed so far, and the number of seriously injured exceeds the treatment capacity of the local clinic. According to local media, a triage center has been set up in a hospital parking lot to decide which seriously injured people have the best chance of survival and receive priority treatment. It is expected that the death toll will rise. There are already reports that international support will be necessary to care for the injured.

Witnesses reported that it was the strongest tremor in more than 20 years. The strong tremors, described as high-frequency, lasted about 30 seconds.

Tectonic situation of Vanuatu

The earthquake is related to subduction along the Vanuatu Trench, which runs to the west of the archipelago. Here the New Hebrides microplate (on whose edge Vanuatu lies and which is associated with the Pacific plate) borders the Australian plate. It is subducted beneath the Neue Herbridenplatte. This tectonic process not only regularly causes strong earthquakes, but is also responsible for volcanism along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The island volcano Lopevi is about 130 kilometers away and Ambrym is 30 kilometers further. These and other volcanoes in the archipelago could have been influenced by the strong tremor.

Update 9:00 a.m.: Further eyewitness reports indicate that people are trapped under several house rubble. Bodies lie on the sides of the roads. In a landslide along a road, a bus was hit and torn into the depths. There are fatalities here too. Two bridges collapsed.