Vanuatu declared a state of emergency Friday after back-to-back earthquakes struck as a second cyclone in as many days lashed the Pacific nation.
The 6.5-magnitude first quake struck at 1804 GMT off the island of Espiritu Santo within the north of the archipelago at a depth of 10 kilometers, the US Geological Survey mentioned.
An aftershock with a magnitude of 5.4 rocked the island shortly after.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center mentioned there was “no tsunami threat” from the preliminary quake.
With Cyclone Kevin additionally raging, authorities spokesman Joe Harry Karu instructed AFP a state of emergency was declared by the council of ministers.
Pacific Red Cross spokesman Soneel Ram instructed AFP no casualties had thus far been reported.
When the earthquakes struck Friday, locals have been hunkering down as fierce winds from the cyclone tore roofs from buildings and uprooted timber.
Only two days earlier, Cyclone Judy had lashed Vanuatu with winds as much as 200 kilometers (125 miles) per hour.
Torrential rain had flooded roads whereas electrical energy and communications are nonetheless affected throughout the island nation, house to 320,000.
Dickinson Tevi, secretary normal of the Vanuatu Red Cross Society, warned of the potential of vital harm.
“People on (Espiritu) Santo felt the earthquake, but couldn’t go outside to assess the damage because of the high winds,” Tevi instructed AFP from the capital Port Vila.
“They told me they didn’t sleep well as the earthquake hit when they were already awake from the cyclone.”
He mentioned components of Port Vila have been with out energy for 2 days.
“Once the winds have died, we will assess the situation, but there is likely to be significant damage as Cyclone Judy had already damaged many structures.”
In January, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake additionally struck off Espiritu Santo, sending villagers fleeing to increased floor however inflicting no main harm.
Vanuatu is within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the place tectonic plates collide, and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic exercise.
It is ranked as one of many nations most inclined to pure disasters like earthquakes, storm harm, flooding and tsunamis, in accordance with the annual World Risk Report. —Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
