Magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes Vanuatu, dozens injured
Several buildings were damaged in the earthquake.
At least six people are dead and 50 injured following a magnitude 7.3 earthquake earthquake in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila, Reuters reports, citing local news and the United Nations.
The quake struck at 12:47 local time (01:47 GMT) on Tuesday.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai declared a state of emergency with a seven-day curfew for the hardest-hit areas.
Video footage shows destroyed roadways and two damaged reservoirs.
Several buildings were affected, including the U.S. Embassy. In a statement, the embassy announced it would be closed "until further notice" after sustaining "considerable" damage.
Speaking with the BBC, Dan McGarry, a journalist living in Vanuatu, said earthquakes aren't uncommon in the area but Tuesday's felt like one of the biggest one in 20 years.
"Emergency services are going to be busy for a while. We have limited equipment and capabilities here," he told the news outlet.
The Prime Minister has requested international assistance.
Vanuatu is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,750 km east of Australia.
Header image: Cheryl Santa Maria/Canva.