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2024 Port Vila earthquake

Coordinates: 17°41′10″S 168°02′02″E / 17.686°S 168.034°E / -17.686; 168.034
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2024 Port Vila earthquake
Strong ground motion map by USGS
2024 Port Vila earthquake is located in Vanuatu
2024 Port Vila earthquake
UTC time2024-12-17 01:47:26
ISC event642646721
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date17 December 2024 (2024-12-17)
Local time12:47:26 VUT (UTC+11)
Duration30 seconds
Magnitude7.3 Mw
Depth57.1 km (35 mi)
Epicenter17°41′10″S 168°02′02″E / 17.686°S 168.034°E / -17.686; 168.034
TypeOblique-slip
Areas affectedEfate, Vanuatu
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)
Tsunami25 cm (10 in)
Aftershocks300+
Strongest: Mw 5.5
Casualties19 fatalities, 200 injuries

At 12:47:26 VUT (01:47:26 UTC) on 17 December 2024, a Mw7.3 earthquake struck Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.[1] At least 19 people died while 200 others were injured. Extensive damage occurred in Port Vila and surrounding areas. The earthquake also generated a 25 cm (10 in) tsunami.[2]

Tectonic setting

The primary feature of the Vanuatuan archipelago, located on its west-southwest, is the New Hebrides Trench, the convergent boundary between the Australian and Pacific plates. Along the Wadati–Benioff zone, earthquake activity has been observed as shallow, intermediate, and deep-focus events at depths of up to 700 km (430 mi). Volcanic activity is also present along this north-northwest trending and northeast-dipping subduction zone.[3]

While much of the island arc experiences intermediate-depth earthquakes along a Wadati–Benioff zone that dips steeply at 70°, the area adjacent to the d'Entrecasteaux Ridge does not. There is a corresponding gap in seismicity that occurs below 50 km (31 mi) where it enters the subduction zone from the west. According to the NUVEL-1 global relative plate motion model, convergence is occurring at roughly 8 cm (3.1 in) per year. The uncertainty, which also affects the Tonga Arc, is due to the influence of spreading at the North Fiji Basin. Of the 58 Mw7.0 or greater events that occurred between 1909 and 2001, few were studied.[4]

Earthquake

The earthquake struck some 30 kilometres (19 mi) off the coast of Efate.[5] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the earthquake at Mw 7.3 with a depth of 57.1 kilometres (35.5 mi). The focal mechanism indicated oblique-normal faulting. Together with the hypocentral depth, this implied faulting within the subducting Australian plate. The USGS proposed two finite fault models: one depicting rupture on a northwest-trending fault with a shallow west-southwest dip, and the other on an east-northeast fault with a near-vertical dip. Both rupture models indicated a maximum slip of 3 m (9.8 ft).[6] Shaking was estimated to have lasted for around 30 seconds.[7] Over 300 aftershocks were recorded,[8] with the strongest measuring Mw 5.5.[9]

Impact

At least 19 people were killed,[8] while 200 others were injured.[10] Of the casualties, two of the dead were Chinese,[2] one death and three of the injuries were Thai,[11] and another fatality was French.[12] Six deaths were caused by a landslide and four more were killed by a building collapse.[13] Former Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau claimed that almost every single house on the island of Efate suffered damage.[8] In Port Vila, at least 10 buildings collapsed, including some in a pancaking manner.[14] A building housing the United States, United Kingdom, French and New Zealand embassies and high commissions collapsed on its ground floor.[15][16][17] The United States, France, New Zealand and Australia said that their diplomatic personnel in Vanuatu were in safe condition.[18][19] Another building was partially destroyed, while severe landslides occurred, including some that blocked roads and buried a wharf in the city. Two bridges also collapsed.[20][21]

A "massive" landslide struck the international shipping terminal of Port Vila, while the runway and control tower of Bauerfield International Airport was damaged,[22][23] leading to the cancellation of multiple flights[24] and its closure to non-humanitarian flights for 72 hours.[25] Another landslide buried a bus, resulting in several deaths.[5] Two reservoirs[26] and the Port Vila Central Hospital were also damaged, forcing the transfer of patients to a military camp. Landslides were also reported in outlying villages and islands, while three bridges were damaged to a point that they were at high risk of collapsing in case of heavy rain.[18] Two power lines were also damaged.[27] The earthquake also triggered landslides that blocked airfields in surrounding islands and damaged water supplies.[28]

A 25 cm (9.8 in) tsunami was observed.[29] The submarine cable providing internet service to Vanuatu was damaged, causing outages.[18] Websites of Vanuatuan government agencies went offline, while communication lines for police and related authorities were rendered unserviceable.[9] The Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation went off air due to damage to Broadcasting House.[30] Despite connectivity issues, people were able to go online through Starlink.[31] The Vanuatu Red Cross Society building was also damaged.[15] Power and water outages occurred in the city,[20] leading to an increase in diarrhoea cases.[25] The main utilities provider, UNELCO, said it could take two weeks to fully restore water supplies.[32] Extensive crop damage was recorded in Mataso due to landslides that buried gardens, sparking concerns over food shortages.[33]

The USGS estimated that the earthquake could cause economic losses measuring between 1–10% of Vanuatu's GDP.[15] The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that 116,000 people had been directly affected by the earthquake,[34] equivalent to a third of Vanuatu's population.[35]

Response

A tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre covering Vanuatu, Fiji, the Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Wallis and Futuna,[9] with waves expected to reach 1 m (3 ft 3 in).[36] This was lifted on 14:14 VUT.[24] The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office told residents of coastal areas to flee to higher ground.[20] Authorities in the country were placed on high alert with one local journalist telling FBC News that the Vanuatu Mobile Forces (VMF) and government emergency workers were immediately mobilized to assist those affected, adding that "government officials are dealing with several casualties."[37] A mass casualty triage centre was set up outside the emergency ward of Port Vila Central Hospital.[20] The central business district of Port Vila was closed off, while a boil water notice was declared over the city.[38]

Officials are currently assessing the extent of the destruction and prioritizing rescue efforts.[30] A seven-day state of emergency[39] and a nighttime curfew[23] was declared by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, who also requested international assistance.[10] Australia,[14] France, New Zealand and the United States deployed humanitarian equipment and personnel to Vanuatu.[25] Australia said it was assisting efforts to reopen Port Vila's airport.[40] A total of 148 Australian citizens in Vanuatu were repatriated by the Royal Australian Air Force,[33] while nearly 93 New Zealanders were evacuated by the New Zealand Defence Force.[38] On 18 December, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules of the Royal New Zealand Air Force carrying an urban search and rescue team to Vanuatu was diverted to Nouméa in New Caledonia due to an engine fire warning.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Vanuatu rocked by major earthquake". Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters. DW News. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Needham, Kirsty; Hsu, Cordelia (18 December 2024). "Vanuatu earthquake death toll rises to 14 as rescuers search for survivors". Reuters. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  3. ^ Yeats, R. (2012), Active Faults of the World, Cambridge University Press, p. 478, ISBN 978-0521190855
  4. ^ Frolich, C. (2006). Deep Earthquakes. Cambridge University Press. pp. 399–401. ISBN 978-0805836523.
  5. ^ a b "Powerful earthquake hits Pacific island of Vanuatu, bodies seen in street". France 24. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  6. ^ ANSS. "M 7.3 – 30 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 2024". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
  7. ^ "Why earthquakes are more common in places such as Vanuatu". ABC Australia. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Live: Rescue efforts continue in Vanuatu, international assistance begins to arrive". Radio New Zealand. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes near Vanuatu capital". Al Jazeera. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Live: Large 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near Vanuatu". Radio New Zealand. 17 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  11. ^ Tangsathaporn, Poramet (19 December 2024). "One Thai killed, three injured in Vanuatu earthquake". The Bangkok Post. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Fears Vanuatu health system could be overwhelmed as disease risks rise after quake". The Guardian. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  13. ^ "NEOC Situation Report No.1". National Disaster Management Office. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Australia sends 'immediate' search and rescue assistance to Vanuatu following powerful earthquake". ABC Australia. 17 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Vanuatu 7.3 magnitude earthquake: First reports of damage". Radio New Zealand. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  16. ^ Pal, Alasdair (17 December 2024). "Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Vanuatu damages US embassy". Reuters. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  17. ^ "US embassy in Vanuatu suffers 'considerable damage' as powerful quake strikes Pacific nation". CNN. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "Vanuatu 7.3 earthquake leaves capital without water, as death toll expected to rise". PBS. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Vanuatu hit by second earthquake as Australia prepares to deploy 'immediate' assistance". SBS. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d Dingwall, Doug; Sas, Nick; Dziedzic, Stephen (17 December 2024). "Fears death toll could rise from Vanuatu's magnitude-7.3 earthquake near Port Vila". ABC Australia. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Bodies Seen In Vanuatu Capital After Major Earthquake: Witness". Agence France-Presse. Barron's. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Government coordinates repatriation efforts". FBC. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  23. ^ a b Graham-McLay, Charlotte. "14 dead and hundreds injured in magnitude 7.3 quake in Vanuatu. Some people are trapped in rubble". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits Vanuatu". BBC. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  25. ^ a b c "Vanuatu earthquake: NZ rescue crews head to quake-hit nation as search for survivors continues". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  26. ^ "6 unconfirmed deaths as 'violent' 7.4-magnitude quake rocks Vanuatu". Free Malaysia Today. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  27. ^ "First Australian crews en route to Vanuatu to assist rescuers after earthquake". ABC Australia. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  28. ^ "International rescuers join search for Vanuatu quake survivors". France 24. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  29. ^ "TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 3". National Tsunami Warning Center. 17 December 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  30. ^ a b Kumar, Kreetika. "Broadcasting disrupted as Vanuatu faces earthquake fallout". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  31. ^ Kumar, Rashika. "Fijians struggle for updates as Qereqeretabua pledges continued efforts to get information". FijiVillage. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Vanuatu quake: Number of dead still unclear as first aid arrives". 1news. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  33. ^ a b "148 Australians return home from Vanuatu as rescuers continue search for earthquake survivors". ABC Australia. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Buildings 'pancaked' in Vanuatu as 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocks Pacific nation". South China Morning Post. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Vanuatu earthquake death toll rises to 14 as rescuers search for survivors". Al Jazeera. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Major quake crushes buildings in Vanuatu capital, bodies seen". Agence France-Presse. France 24. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  37. ^ Kumar, Kreetika. "One fatality confirmed in Vanuatu; Fiji keeping tabs". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Rescue teams continue hunt for survivors after Vanuatu earthquake". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  39. ^ "Rescuers race to find survivors as 14 dead after Vanuatu earthquake". BBC. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  40. ^ "Cyclone threat looms as Vanuatu struggles with earthquake aftermath". ABC Australia. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  41. ^ "Vanuatu quake: NZDF Hercules diverted after engine fire warning". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
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