![This handout image taken from the Facebook account of Michael Thompson on December 17, 2024 shows a general view of the damage incurred by the building housing the United States Embassy in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila after a powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island. - The 7.3-magnitude quake struck on December 17 at a depth of 57 kilometres (35 miles), some 30 kilometres off the coast of Efate, Vanuatu's main island, at 12:47 pm (0147 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. (Photo by MICHAEL THOMPSON / Facebook account of Michael Thompson / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 16, 2025 05:40:08 GMT - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT «AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK / MICHAEL THOMPSON» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [- NO ARCHIVE ]](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--je1gY16G--/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_1050/v1734414852/4KF0Q9R_AFP__20241217__36QF6LM__v1__HighRes__VanuatuEarthquakeDamage_jpg?_a=BACCd2AD)
Photo: AFP / Facebook account of Michael Thompson
A large 7.3 magnitude Pacific earthquake has caused significant damage to the New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu.
The quake, at a depth of 10km struck Port-Vila, Vanuatu, on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey says.
The building also houses United States, French and United Kingdom embassies.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson says it is in "in the process of contacting our staff to check they are safe".
There are 45 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Vanuatu, though MFAT expects there will be more who are not registered.
Images from Vanuatu show extensive damange and landslides in locations such as Port Vila.
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- RNZ with Reuters
