Overview

On 17 December 2024 at approximately 1247pm, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila. The earthquake and associated aftershocks, triggered landslides and building collapses and caused damage to critical infrastructure in Port Vila.

It is estimated at least 14 people tragically lost their lives in the earthquake, with the Government of Vanuatu declaring a state of emergency on 18 December. The earthquake suspended telecommunications and internet, interrupted clean water supply and damaged Port Vila's Bauerfield International Airport and Port Vila Central hospital.

Australia's humanitarian response

Australia acted swiftly to provide humanitarian support to the Government of Vanuatu's response efforts, announcing a $2 million support package on 18 December to fund the immediate deployment of a 64 member Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to undertake search and rescue operations and a six member Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT). Australian Federal Police members, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and National Emergency Management Agency officers and other technical experts were also deployed.

The Australian Government responded on 22 December with a further $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support the Government of Vanuatu's ongoing response and recovery through a further deployment of a 17 member AUSMAT, funding support for NGOs through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership and support to the Australian Red Cross who are working in partnership with the Vanuatu Red Cross.

Australian Government humanitarian relief supplies were provided for over 500 families and included sanitation and hygiene kits, water filtration and shelter and early recovery items. Australian Defence Force flights also delivered 9.5 tonnes of emergency relief supplies on behalf of partner humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross, UN World Food Programme, CARE, Save the Children and World Vision.

ADF support included ten flights by C-17 and C-130 aircraft to provide transport for the deployed teams and other specialist personnel and materials, including structural engineers to assess key infrastructure including the airport and the Vila Central Hospital; engineers to assess fuel pipelines at the wharf and specialist technical support to repair the landing station cable and restore internet connectivity.

International engagement and Pacific Regional response efforts

The Australian Government worked closely with FRANZ partners, France and New Zealand, to support the Government of Vanuatu's disaster response by closely coordinating humanitarian assistance. Australia assisted the distribution of humanitarian relief supplies from the United Kingdom.

Following a request from the Government of Vanuatu, Australia is also supporting a Pacific Special Assistance Team deployment, with representatives from Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, France and Australia and a Pacific Police Support Group deployment, with representatives from PNG, Solomon Islands and Australia.

Travel advice and consular assistance

Commercial flights travelling to and from Port Vila have reopened. Australians in need of emergency consular assistance or that require assistance with departure should contact the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

For the latest travel advice regarding Vanuatu, please visit Smartraveller.

568 Australians, Permanent Residents, and approved family members were assisted to return to Australia on eight ADF flights returning from Port Vila between 18-21 December.

Australian High Commission (AHC) staff in Port Vila provided consular support to affected Australians in spite of communications outages by holding regular consular ‘town hall' sessions across town and spoke in person to over 1,200 Australians in Vanuatu. AHC staff also visited hotels twice daily with roving teams equipped with a Starlink mobile terminal to provide short windows of connectivity for affected Australians.

Media releases and statements

• 17 December Australia's response to Vanuatu earthquake Joint media release with: Acting Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Matt Keogh MP.
• 18 December Update on Australia's response to Vanuatu earthquake Joint media release with: The Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence; The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Attorney-General; The Hon Catherine King MP, Acting Minister for Emergency Management; The Hon Matt Keogh MP, Acting minister for international development and the Pacific.
• 22 December Additional assistance in response to Vanuatu earthquake Joint media release with: The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Attorney-General and acting Minister for Foreign Affairs; The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific; The Hon Catherine King MP, Acting Minister for Emergency Management; The Hon Matt Keogh MP, acting Minister for Defence.