Vanuatu rocked by 7.3 magnitude earthquake, ‘bodies spotted’ in capital city of Port Vila

Images circulating online have shown immense damage to buildings after a massive 7.3 magnitude struck off a Pacific Island nation.

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu on Tuesday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the Pacific island state with authorities issuing a tsunami warning.

The quake was detected 30km west of the capital Port Vila and initially measured at a magnitude of 7.4 before being revised to 7.3 by the US Geological Survey.

Images circulating online have shown damage to buildings and collapsed bridges, while several residents rush to higher ground in preparation for potential aftershocks or ocean movement.

Witnesses have said they saw bodies in the Vanuatu capital, where the ground floor of a building housing the US and French embassies had been crushed under higher floors.

The building housing New Zealand’s High Commission and other diplomatic missions also sustained “significant damage” from the quake.

“Our High Commission building, which is co-located with the United States, the French and the United Kingdom, has sustained significant damage,” it said.

“New Zealand is deeply concerned about the significant earthquake in Vanuatu, and the damage it has caused.”

Earthquake, tsunami warning rocks Pacific nation. Picture: CSEM

Images circulating online have shown damage to buildings and vehicles. Source: X

Local authorities have issued a tsunami warning. Credit: Disasters Daily

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center immediately issued an bulletin confirming that “tsunami waves have been observed,” predicting waves of up to one metre along parts of Vanuatu’s coastline.

Other Pacific nations, including Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu, were also warned of tsunami waves less than 30cm above the tidal level.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed to the Herald Sun there was “no tsunami threat to Australia”.

More to come.