Vanuatu hit by two earthquakes and two cyclones in 2 days

Vanuatu hit by two earthquakes and two cyclones in 2 days

By Rashika Kumar
Saturday 04/03/2023
Photo:abc.net.au

Vanuatu has been under a state of emergency, after two earthquakes and two cyclones hit in as many days.

ABC reports hundreds of people remained in emergency evacuation centres in the capital Port Vila as Tropical Cyclone Kevin brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall.

The Fiji Meteorology Service says wind gusts reached up to 230 kilometres an hour in the early hours of this morning.

No casualties were immediately reported but a number of properties were flattened and many homes and businesses reported power outages.

The cyclone built to a category 4 this morning as it passed the capital and travelled Southeast.

It comes just two days after the country was hit by category 4 TC Judy, that caused widespread damage and flooding.

Authorities have reported no casualties from Cyclone Judy, which tore off roofs, flooded roads and uprooted countless trees.

Disaster response agencies are braced for further damage from Cyclone Kevin and a long recovery ahead.

Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau announced a state of emergency yesterday.

As the country cleared roads and restored power lines cut by TC Judy, residents were jolted early yesterday by twin earthquakes.

No casualties were immediately reported from the two earthquakes but the situation on outlying islands remained unclear.

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck 90 kilometres from Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo at 5am yesterday with a second 5.4 magnitude earthquake 114 kilometres from the city at 6.30am.

The island, which has a population of about 40,000, is isolated in parts, and authorities say communication in some areas is limited but so far no major reports of damage have been reported.

Vanuatu is in the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide, and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

Source: abc.net.au

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