Bodies have been seen as rescuers comb through the rubble of buildings which collapsed when a 7.3 earthquake struck the island nation of Vanuatu this afternoon.

A major search and rescue operation is underway as those on the ground scramble to find survivors.

AFP News Agency reported that bodies could be seen in the capital Port Vila after the strong quake collapsed bridges, triggered landslides and severely damaged multiple buildings.

A New Zealander scrambled to get to higher ground amid the “chaos” in Port Vila as the earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu.

The woman, one of 45 New Zealanders registered in the Pacific nation, was in a store on the waterfront of Fatumaru Bay in Port Vila as the 57km-deep quake levelled buildings in the capital around 2.47pm (NZ time).

“It just went off like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” the woman, who didn’t wish to be named, told the Herald.
“It’s chaos. In town there’s buildings everywhere, people trapped under rubble.

“As we were getting out [the area] I looked straight ahead and thought, oh my f*****g god a whole three-storey building is down and you could just see the tailgate of cars sticking out from underneath.

“This is a busy place, everyone’s on foot, there’s people everywhere.”

The woman said “everything” fell over in the shop when the shaking, which believed lasted about 20 seconds, struck.

“Everything fell [in the shop]. Everything was smashing left, right and centre and, of course, myself and everyone else inside the store just ran outside.”

She said after the big quake there were multiple little aftershocks.

“Everyone was helping each other get up the hill to higher ground. People jumping in the back of trucks. The military were already in town.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says its High Commission building in Vanuatu sustained “significant damage” after the quake.

“There are 45 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Vanuatu, though we expect there will be more who are not registered.

New Zealanders there should follow the advice of authorities and be prepared for aftershocks,” MFAT said.

The building also housed the US embassy.

“The US Embassy in Port Vila has sustained considerable damage and is closed until further notice,” a spokesperson for the US Embassy told CNN.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this earthquake and the US government will work closely with our partners in Vanuatu.”

The quake sparked a tsunami threat, which passed after initial waves of about 25cm in size reached the Port Vila coast.

The seismic event was “unnoticeable” in New Zealand.

In a statement at 3.54pm, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) confirmed there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand.

“The National Emergency Management Agency has assessed the information with the assistance of scientific advisers. Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand.”

Local Michael Thompson made a public plea on social media, saying multiple buildings had come down around the city.

Thompson said a big rescue operation was under way to rescue people possibly alive inside collapsed buildings.

“We need heavy equipment and we need some experienced personnel.

“A lot of people walking around the streets just not sure what to do.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his thoughts - and the thoughts of the NZ Government - are with the people of Vanuatu after the major earthquake.

“We are monitoring the developing situation closely and stand ready to help,” he wrote on X.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the Government is monitoring the developing situation closely and is in contact with New Zealand High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Nicci Simmonds, and her team.

Buildings were destroyed in Port Vila when a 7.4m earthquake struck west of Vanuatu. Photo / Michael Thompson

A journalist in Port Vila described the quake as a “violent, high-frequency vertical shake”.

Dan McGarry took to X, saying the shake lasted 30 seconds, but “about a century in subjective time”.

He said his wife reported seeing a large landslide on the wharf road.

“Biggest one I’ve seen in 20+ years,” he said.

Damage in Port Vila, Vanuatu after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit this afternoon, sparking a tsunami warning. Photo / Tim Cutler

Brian Malby lives in Port Havannah and described the quake.

“It was huge, emptied half my pool, the house bent and shook, the dogs knew it was coming before it hit us.

“Completely knocked me over, so violent, still getting aftershocks. Just had another big one. Otherwise all good, lots of coastal slips, my concern is for the villagers in their metal huts.”

People make their way to higher ground in Port Vila after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit west of Vanuatu, sparking a tsunami warning. Photo / Tim Cutler

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said there is no threat to Australia from the earthquake.