Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Port Vila, highlighted the dire situation following the earthquake, stating, 'I heard of one death from a police officer outside Vila Central Hospital. Doctors were working 'as fast as they could' at a triage center, but the nation is not equipped for a mass casualty event.' This reveals the urgent need for medical aid in Vanuatu and the strain on local resources.
Witness accounts of damage and injuries began to emerge as communications were down. McGarry noted, 'Video shared showed crowds outside the hospital, with three people on gurneys in obvious distress.' This underscores the immediate impact of the earthquake on the local population.
The earthquake's power at 7.3 magnitude and depth of 57 kilometers caused confusion and chaos in the aftermath. 'No confirmed reports of damage or casualties were provided initially,' indicating the challenges in assessing the situation due to disrupted communications.
With the Geohazards Department reporting monitoring systems offline due to power outages, local authorities urged residents to stay away from coastlines for 24 hours. This precautionary measure emphasizes the continuing risk and the importance of safety in the aftermath of such disasters.
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