Search and rescue efforts continue for survivors after a 7.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu on Tuesday, followed by a 6.1 quake on Wednesday killed at least 14 and injured hundreds.
Help is slowly arriving, with incoming support from New Zealand, Australia and France. The aiport in Port Vila is not operational other than for humanitarian assistance.
There are concerns about a lack of safe drinking water and Unicef Vanuatu Field Office Eric Durpaire told Midday Report there has been an increase in cases of diarrhea. World Vision says electricity is still out and most stores are closed.
Two Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff previously unaccounted for have been found safe.
Follow our liveblog for updates as they come to hand:
![This screengrab taken from handout video footage posted on the Facebook account of Michael Thompson on December 17, 2024 shows a member of security inspecting a collapsed building in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila after a powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island. - The 7.3-magnitude quake struck on December 17 at a depth of 57 kilometres (35 miles), some 30 kilometres off the coast of Efate, Vanuatu's main island, at 12:47 pm (0147 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. (Photo by MICHAEL THOMPSON / Facebook account of Michael Thompson / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 16, 2025 05:59:55 GMT - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT «AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK / MICHAEL THOMPSON» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [- NO ARCHIVE ]](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--_3YKEX9L--/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_288/v1734450455/4KEZYSX_AFP__20241217__36QJ7DV__v3__HighRes__TopshotVanuatuEarthquakeDamage_1_jpg?_a=BACCd2AD)
![This screengrab taken from handout video footage posted on the Facebook account of Michael Thompson on December 17, 2024 shows a member of security inspecting a collapsed building in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila after a powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island. - The 7.3-magnitude quake struck on December 17 at a depth of 57 kilometres (35 miles), some 30 kilometres off the coast of Efate, Vanuatu's main island, at 12:47 pm (0147 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. (Photo by MICHAEL THOMPSON / Facebook account of Michael Thompson / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 16, 2025 05:59:55 GMT - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT «AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK / MICHAEL THOMPSON» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [- NO ARCHIVE ]](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--Pwfx0_t---/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_288/v1734418334/4KF0NL2_AFP__20241217__36QJ7DV__v1__HighRes__VanuatuEarthquakeDamage_jpg?_a=BACCd2AD)
