Washington: The United States closed its embassy in Vanuatu until further notice after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the South Pacific Ocean nation on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Papua New Guinea said.
“The US Embassy in Port Vila has sustained considerable damage and is closed until further notice. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this earthquake,” the mission said in a statement.
The building of New Zealand’s diplomatic mission was likewise severely damaged, New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston, Peters, stated.
“New Zealand is deeply concerned about the significant earthquake in Vanuatu and the damage it caused. Our thoughts are with the people and authorities of Vanuatu… Our High Commission building, located near the embassies of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, has sustained significant damage,” the statement from the Foreign Minister’s office said.
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said that her country “stands ready to support Vanuatu, as the extent of the damage is assessed.”
The US Geological Survey said the powerful quake hit less than 20 miles west of the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila, which has a population of 36,000. The Vanuatu Red Cross Society said the tremor collapsed buildings, killing at least six and injuring many others.
