The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively collaborating with the government of Vanuatu to locate Fijians who may be impacted by the strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the region yesterday. Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sitiveni Rabuka, stated that while he cannot confirm the extent of the effects on Fijians, Fiji is prepared to extend support to Vanuatu.
“We are prepared, with our personnel currently undergoing training at Blackrock,” said Mr. Rabuka. “They can be deployed swiftly as part of our disaster management team associated with regional development efforts.”
Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, reiterated this commitment, indicating that they are vigilantly observing the situation following the earthquake. “Fiji is ready to support the relief efforts in any capacity we can with our partners,” he affirmed.
The earthquake, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), hit 30 kilometers west of Vanuatu’s capital at a depth of approximately 57.1 kilometers. An aftershock of 5.5 magnitude occurred shortly after. At the time of reporting, Vanuatu authorities had confirmed one casualty.
Communication lines in Vanuatu have been affected, though channels for sharing information through platforms like Starlink have allowed for the dissemination of updates and visuals on social media.
The readiness shown by the Fijian government to assist its neighbors in times of crisis highlights the strong regional solidarity in the Pacific. As rescue and recovery efforts progress, one can be hopeful that the international community will unite to provide necessary support to those affected in Vanuatu.
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