Earthquake in Vanuatu Leaves 14 Dead, Hundreds Injured

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday, resulting in at least 14 deaths and hundreds of injuries, with ongoing rescue efforts hampered by significant infrastructure damage. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 35 miles, led to widespread destruction, including damage to embassies, hospitals, and critical water and power systems. A state of emergency has been declared to facilitate search and relief operations, while communication outages have hindered the flow of information and aid. Rescuers continue to work through rubble to find survivors, with reports of people still trapped beneath collapsed buildings. International assistance from countries like Australia and New Zealand is being mobilized to support recovery efforts. The UN estimates that approximately 116,000 individuals have been affected by this disaster.