WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The U.S. Embassy in Port Vila was broken on Tuesday as a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.
The embassy, which is within the capital on the island of Efate, “sustained appreciable injury in the course of the earthquake and is closed till additional discover,” U.S. officers mentioned in an alert. All staffers who have been within the constructing on the time of the quake have been protected and accounted for, officers mentioned in a later replace on social media.
“Our ideas are with everybody affected by this earthquake, and the U.S. authorities will work carefully with our companions in Vanuatu,” the replace mentioned.
The earthquake struck about 2 miles west of the capital simply earlier than 1 p.m. native time, the U.S. Geological Survey mentioned. A sequence of aftershocks adopted, however no tsunami warnings have been issued.
“The U.S. Embassy is listening to reviews that flights to and from Vanuatu are canceled,” the embassy mentioned within the alert “There are additionally reviews of landslides within the Port Vila space.”
“People are suggested to keep away from getting into buildings as they might be broken or unstable,” the alert mentioned.
The embassy was opened in July, Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesperson, mentioned on the time.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.
