Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes off the coast of Vanuatu

 A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck near Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The earthquake briefly triggered a tsunami alert for parts of Vanuatu, but officials confirmed by 14:14 local time that the threat had passed.

The extent of the damage remains unclear, but there are unconfirmed reports of at least one fatality.

Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Port Vila, reported that police at the Vila Central Hospital confirmed one death and three people seriously injured.

McGarry described the earthquake as the most powerful he had experienced in over 20 years.

Social media footage shows widespread damage, including collapsed buildings, cars hit by falling debris, and furniture scattered inside homes.

Residents also reported intermittent communications, complicating efforts to assess the full impact of the disaster.

The US Embassy in Port Vila was among the damaged buildings. Officials stated that the embassy sustained considerable damage and will remain closed until further notice. The embassy in Papua New Guinea expressed its condolences, offering support to Vanuatu.

Michael Thompson, director of the Vanuatu Jungle Zipline adventure company, reported seeing bodies in the streets and multiple collapsed buildings. He noted that rescue operations were underway to free potential survivors trapped in the rubble.

USGS recorded several aftershocks in the two hours following the main quake, with magnitudes ranging from 4.7 to 5.5.

It added that the aftershock tremors were at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).

Authorities in neighboring New Zealand and Australia confirmed that no tsunami threat existed for their countries.

Australia expressed its readiness to assist Vanuatu as the damage assessment continues, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong stating, “Vanuatu is family, and we will always be there in times of need.”

Vanuatu, an archipelago of about 80 islands, is located in a seismically active zone and frequently experiences large earthquakes and other natural disasters.

A mammoth 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Vanuatu sparking an urgent tsunami warning. 

The quake struck 29km west of Port Vila on the island of Efate at a depth of 57km at 12.47pm local time, according to EMSC. 

A 5.5 magnitude aftershock was recorded just minutes later. 

The series of earthquakes caused significant damage to the U.S Embassy to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Footage from outside the building shows some of the windows were crushed while other frames appear warped by the impact of the quake. 

Hazardous tsunami waves between 0.3 and one metre are forecast for the coasts of Fiji, Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. 

'Persons located in threatened coastal areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities,' it said in a statement. 

The center said impacts of the tsunami would vary depending on the section of coast'Impacts can also vary depending upon the state of the tide at the time of the maximum tsunami waves. Persons caught in the water of a tsunami may drown, be crushed by debris in the water or be swept out to sea.' 

There is no tsunami threat to Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed.Port Vila is just under 2,000km away from Australia. It takes just under four hours to fly to the popular holiday destination from Sydney.