Quake felt widely in Vanuatu

VANUATU – Disaster authorities in Vanuatu’s Malampa province say over 1000 people are returning to their villages after this Thursday’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake.

The Provincial Disaster Officer Abelson Abel said there were fears of a tsunami immediately after the quake as the sea waters rolled out.

However he said thankfully the alert was cancelled and villagers who had been evacuated could return home.

“About 1000 people were moved to the higher ground because this earthquake was one of the strongest earthquakes that most people have experienced since the last big earthquake in 1999.”

Ten people were killed after a 7.5 earthquake struck Abrymn Province in 1999.

Abel said while two or three buildings suffered major damage, structural damage across the province was minimal.

- RNZI