As search efforts continue for those missing in Vanuatu, UNICEF Pacific chief of Vanuatu field office Eric Durpaire has raised concern over the lack of clean drinking water for some in the wake of yesterday's magnitude 7.3 earthquake.
At least 14 people died in the earthquake and hundreds have been injured. Search efforts were continuing and the death toll was expected to rise.
Durpaire said the water situation was "really concerning".
Efforts concentrate on finding survivors while others work to restore shattered utilities on the Pacific Island. (Source: 1News)
"Yesterday UNICEF assisted the hospital with the emergency response, provided first aid kits, provided tents, also because patients cannot go back into the buildings [which] are damaged or dangerous.
"What we noticed, and particularly this morning, [was] an increase of diarrhoea cases."
Durpaire put the sickness down people, including children, drinking contaminated water.
"It's not quantified yet — it's just what we can observe."
He added UNICEF was working with the Vanuatu government to provide jerry cans and other material for water.
“[The earthquake] was a very scary event… it was very violent and I don’t think anyone has really slept… I mean everyone is in this atmosphere of being very vulnerable… feeling vulnerable is the main feeling that we have here.”
RNZAF sends equipment, Port Vila airport reopens
A Royal New Zealand Airforce Hercules has departed Whenuapai this afternoon, RNZ is reporting.
It carried Urban Search and Rescue personnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff, along with equipment.
The New Zealand Defence Force told RNZ a second Hercules was expected to depart early tomorrow.
Crew who undertook a surveillance flight earlier today are staying the night in Fiji.
In a post to X, the French Ambassador to Vanuatu said the airport in Port Vila had been reopened.
Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer said the airport was operating on a portable satellite communication system.
The Australian Queensland Fire Department also posted about its crew preparing to embark for Port Vila this afternoon.
Details of deceased emerging
International news agency Reuters has reported two people killed in the earthquake were Chinese nationals. This has reportedly been confirmed by the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang.
Meanwhile, AAP confirmed another was a 26-year-old woman who was a seasonal worker in Queensland, and had headed home for Christmas after a nine-month stint. She was identified by her former boss as Valerie.
"It's a tragedy. Twenty-six years of age, a single mother only went home three days ago. It's an absolute tragedy and our team's been really rattled by it," Icomply chief executive Rodney Prestia told AAP.
'A lot of uncertainty' – VSA programme director
Meanwhile, Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) director Micaela van der Schaaf told 1News power was still out in a lot of areas.
“There’s no running water… the town is blocked off to traffic. We’ve driven around the perimeter of that to reach access through someone’s Starlink, because pretty much connectivity’s out.
"Town looks bad… you can see a few collapsed buildings… there’s been significant landslides as well, which have caused damage."
Van der Schaaf said rescue teams were "doing their best" to get to people.
"There’s still a lot of uncertainty and there’s certainly many people I’ve crossed paths with who have family and friends who are still unaccounted for."
In an earlier post, McGarry said Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai declared a curfew from 6pm to 6am "for the time being".
Government update
In a statement issued earlier this afternoon, the Vanuatu government said the airport at Port Vila was still not operational, with the exceptions of "incoming humanitarian assistance", due to contamination of aircraft fuel reserves.
It also confirmed internet and mobile connectivity remained "intermittent".
Under immediate needs, the government said it required medical supplies and repairs to damaged medical structures, mobile emergency medical teams, search and rescue teams and heavy machinery for cleaning landslides and collapsed buildings, as well as safe drinking water and jerry cans.
It also confirmed four had died at the hospital, six in a landslide and four in the Billabong building, with the number expected to increase.
New Zealand was sending 34 Urban Search and Rescue personnel, alongside one Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) liaison, to Vanuatu today.
There were 70 New Zealanders registered as being in the country, but MFAT expected the actual number to be higher.
"The Ministry has been receiving a steady number of calls and enquires regarding New Zealanders in Vanuatu and is working to provide consular assistance to affected New Zealanders."
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said NZ was working closely with Australia and France to provide support.
Red Cross Appeal
New Zealand Red Cross has launched an appeal to support those impacted by the earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Donations can be made via the website: redcross.org.nz.
SHARE ME