Major 7.3-Magnitude Quake Kills 14 in Pacific Nation Vanuatu
- USGS says the local area may have experienced severe shaking
- Australia to begin sending help on Wednesday morning
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the small Pacific nation of Vanuatu has killed at least 14 people and left more than 200 injured, according to the International Red Cross, with Australia pledging to immediately deploy assistance to its neighbor.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Head of Delegation Katie Greenwood said in a post to social media site X that the Vanuatu government had confirmed the initial death toll from Tuesday’s quake, adding that local hospital infrastructure, homes and water reserves had been damaged.