Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation, has seen 14 deaths and counting and hundreds of injuries after a catastrophic 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck just offshore from one of the country’s most populous islands
King Charles has sent his prayers and thoughts to a small country in Oceania after it was devastated by a massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake. The official number of 14 confirmed deaths from December 17, and more than 200 people injured was expected to rise.
He posted a statement on the Royal Family social media channels saying he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragedy. He shared his thoughts and prayers in both English and Tok Pisin, which is spoken in some areas of Vanuatu, along with Bislama, which is the second language of the country.
Tok Pisin is a ‘market language’, meaning it’s used as an everyday language between people who don’t speak a common language. It has characteristics of different languages. It’s primarily made up of English vocabulary, but the origin of its syntax is debated.
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In his statement the King said that he and Queen Camilla were left “deeply saddened to learn of the magnitude of the earthquake which struct Vanuatu”.
In full he said: “My wife and I have been deeply saddened to learn of the magnitude of the earthquake which struck Vanuatu on Tuesday and the loss of life and property which this devastating natural disaster has left in its wake.
“I am aware, from my visit to Vanuatu and Port Vila in 2018, of the extraordinary spirit of ni-Vanuatu, which has been called upon too often in recent years with repeated cyclones and, now, with this terrible earthquake.
“At this most difficult of times, I wanted you and all the people of Vanuatu to know that you are remembered in our thoughts and prayers, and that we send you all our deepest sympathy and heartfelt wishes. Charles R.”
The initial natural disaster saw a 7.3 earthquake hit 31km from Port Vila, Vanuatu. However that’s not been the end of it as the aftershocks and further earthquakes saw another 5.2 quake his 32km from Port Vila the day after on December 18.
Another 6.1 magnitude earthquake was reported just yesterday on December 21, 31km from the island, amongst others. A search is still underway to find those killed or trapped alive by the rubble and debris.
Not all of those killed or hurt had been brought to a hospital and would not be included in the figures, aid agencies said. Some residents were scared to visit badly-damaged Vila Central Hospital, the main treatment facility.
Nearly 1,000 people were displaced, according to United Nations figures. Aid workers estimated about 20,000 people were likely without water, reports the Independent.
Due to the water shortage, the nation is threatened with the prospect of consuming contaminated water, which will make them ill.
Brecht Mommen, a UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene specialist based in Vanuatu said: “It’s a rush against time to get water trucks organized for those areas so that we prevent a second disaster, which is a diarrhea outbreak.”
He added that it was still unclear where broken pipes lay in the network servicing Port Vila, and it was as of yet unknown how long it would take to find and fix them all.
