Australia evacuates scores from earthquake-ravaged Vanuatu

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has evacuated more than 148 Australians from Vanuatu after a deadly earthquake struck the small South Pacific country earlier this week.

At least 14 people were killed in the 7.3-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday afternoon, but with 116,000 estimated to have been affected, officials have said they expect that figure to rise.

Hundreds more were injured.

“Overnight, 148 Australian citizens returned home on the two RAAF aircraft that delivered vital assistance to Vanuatu,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday.

“We are helping Vanuatu to restore operations at the commercial airport.

“Additional assistance will be provided where possible, ahead of the airport reopening.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed late Wednesday Australian crisis crews had touched down in Vanuatu and were assisting local authorities as they scrambled to rescue unknown numbers buried beneath collapsed buildings.

“Australian emergency crews are now on the ground in Vanuatu following the devastating earthquake,” Senator Wong said.

“Search and rescue teams will be working with local authorities to assist those trapped in collapsed buildings.

“And an Australian Medical Assistance Team will help treat the injured.”

Two Chinese citizens were among those killed in quake, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported.

France’s ambassador to Vanuatu confirmed a French citizen was also killed.

France has been working with Australia and New Zealand under FRANZ, a trilateral disaster response pact, to co-ordinate efforts to help Vanuatu.

The Albanese government has so far deployed an immediate $2m response package, which includes a 64-person Disaster Assistance Response Team and two canines to undertake urban search and rescue operations.

An Australian Medical Assistance Team has also been deployed alongside a five-person crisis response team from DFAT, a liaison officer from the National Emergency Management Agency and a further nine federal police officers to add to the six already posted to Vanuatu.