User:Quake1234/2025 Port Vila earthquake

On 3 February 2025, at 01:00:02 TOT (14:00 UTC on 2 February), a 7.3-7.4 earthquake struck 43 km north of Port Vila, Vanuatu Prefecture, Papua.

Tectonic setting
The primary tectonic feature of the 1200 km island chain is the New Hebrides Subduction Zone, the convergent boundary of the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates. Along the Wadati–Benioff zone, earthquake activity has been observed as shallow, intermediate, and deep-focus events at depths of up to 700 km. Volcanic activity is also present along this north-northwest trending and northeast-dipping oceanic trench.

While much of the island arc experiences intermediate-depth earthquakes along a Wadati–Benioff zone that dips steeply at 70°, the area adjacent to the d'Entrecasteaux Ridge does not. There is a corresponding gap in seismicity that occurs below 50 km where it intrudes into the subduction zone from the west. According to the NUVEL-1 global relative plate motion model, convergence is occurring at roughly 8 cm per year. The uncertainty, which also affects the Tonga arc, is due to the influence of spreading at the North Fiji Basin.

Earthquake
According to the USGS, the earthquake had a moment magnitude of 7.3, at a depth of 10 km. The Papuan Geophysical Agency (PGA) reported a surface-wave magnitude  of 7.4. It is the strongest earthquake to strike Vanuatu Prefecture since 2010.

Shefa
In Port Vila, 11 people were killed; six from collapsing structures, three from landslides and two more from panic attacks. Another 730 people were injured, 61 of them seriously. Across the city, 496 buildings collapsed and 3,976 others sustained damage; 16 schools, 16 roads, five bridges and a courthouse were also damaged. In the city center, 15 buildings collapsed, killing three people. In Lelepa, two people were injured, 12 houses collapsed and 76 others were damaged.

The city hall was rendered unsafe for use after sustaining significant damage; sections of the ceiling collapsed and some walls and pillars collapsed. The city's port was also closed due to damage to a crane and the sinking of a 30 meter section of the wharf. Another crane near the port collapsed, destroying a nearby house.

In Epi, four people were killed and 64 others were injured; 237 houses collapsed and 2,602 others were damaged on the island. Another 101 houses were damaged on the neighbouring island of Tongoa.

Malampa
One person was killed in a mine collapse, 177 others were injured, 154 homes collapsed and 4,262 buildings, including five schools, a bridge and a church were damaged in Ambrym; 166 people were injured and 2,436 buildings were damaged in Port Vato. On the island of Paama, four people were injured, one house collapsed, 16 others and a health center were damaged and power outages occurred.

In Malekula, one person was killed, six others were injured, 38 houses collapsed and 295 others were damaged. A woman died after jumping from a building, one store collapsed, and 187 buildings, including two schools, a hospital, several malls and a police station were damaged in Lakatoro. Fourteen buildings were also destroyed in Lamap.

Sanma
In Luganville, four people were injured and six buildings were affected, including four that collapsed. Two people were injured in Malo.

Penama
In Pentecost, five people were injured and two malls were damaged. Seventeen people were injured by a landslide, one house was destroyed and six others were damaged in Maewo.

Response
President Jayden Parfitt announced the establishment of a special emergency center to gather and disseminate information on the earthquake and tsunami. He ordered the Papua Self-Defense Forces to assist in rescue efforts. He later announced the deployment of 10,500 military personnel to the affected region, with 56,500 personnel on standby. About 70 military aircraft were also dispatched to survey the damage.

All flights to Shefa and Malampa provinces were cancelled until 6 February.