GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
NEOC SITUATION REPORT
Disaster Type:
Earthquake
Situation Report # :
04
D a t e :
20 December 2024
Provinces Affected:
SHEFA
Reporting Period:
19 December (1600Hrs) to 20 December (1600Hrs), 2024
SITUATION OVERVIEW:
7.3 Magnitude 1251 HRS Occurrence time
80,000 Estimated Affected Population
Earthquake Location: Latitude: 17.7 Degree South,
Longitude: 167.8 Degree East
(34 Km West of Efate and 150Km West of Erromango)
Confirm source: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department
(VMGD)
• A State of Emergency is declared throughout the worst affected areas of Vanuatu on the
17 of December 2024. This declaration of State of Emergency is for a period of 7 days
from the date on which the order is made.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT:
• Most of the damage in Port Vila, Efate.
Main downtown Port Vila, Efate closed to the public.
12 confirmed deaths by Vila Central Hospital (VCH) and 8 survivors reported by JPOC
Over 210 injured treated at the main hospital (VCH) and numbers expected to increase
• Many buildings sustain major structural damage:
Over 10 building in Port Vila town damaged including – Billabong Building, (US
Embassy building, New Zealand High Commission building, UK Embassy) Wong
store building, Vila Central Hospital (VCH)
Search and rescue in damaged buildings is still ongoing.
• Damage to Tagabe bridge, Teouma bridge and Blacksand bridge. Tagabe bridge has a
high risk of collapse if heavy flow of water is experienced due to rainfall.
• Damage to power lines and public water supply in the urban area.
Two major water reserves in Ohlen area which supplies water to Port Vila are totally
destroyed and will need reconstruction, assessment of water network is ongoing
Mobile phone communication functional with intermittent disruptions.
Ports of Entry – Port Vila main wharf (Lapetasi) is closed due to major landslide
Nearby villages near Efate and off-shore islands experienced landslides
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
IMMEDIATE NEED:
• Safe shelter for evacuees
Restoration of power and energy supplies to essential services (clinics, retail shops)
• Restoration of network and communication services
Medical supplies and repairs to damage medical structures
Mobile Emergency Medical Teams
• Search and Rescue Teams and heavy machinery for cleaning landslides and collapse
buildings
• Safe drinking water and Jerry Cans.
SECTOR UPDATES
NEOC
• NEOC coordinates with Shefa Provincial Government Council through Area
Administrators to conduct Community Assessment and Area Council Assessment.
Assessment on-going.
• NEOC is compiling a list of Cluster meeting times. Al Clusters are requested to inform
NEOC IM of planned meetings.
• NEOC is compiling a list of surge capacity teams. Al incoming response teams are to
contact NEOC IM at [email protected]
• Coordination with Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU), Joint Police
Operation Center (JPOC), Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP), and
Municipal on assessment of collapse buildings and enforce restrictions with support from
surge capacity from French Engineers and Australian Defense Force.
JOINT POLICE OPERATION CENTRE
• JPOC working in-partnership with Pro-Medical, Foreign Search and Rescue Partners
and Private Business Companies in search and rescue efforts – operations ongoing.
• Billabong building was completely demolished and access road cleaning in progress.
Search and Rescue team primary focus now on cleaning landslide debris on the main
road at the Lapetasi Wharf.
PRIVATE SECTOR
BSP Bank
• Branches full operational in Freswota, Tanna and Santo
• Main Port Vila branch waiting engineering assessment
• Al ATMs restored (maybe temporarily offline in areas without power)
Relationship managers available to assist customers
• 1 ATMs were operational as of 2pm yesterday.
• Main branch and Tagabe branch assessed as safe – working to restore minimal services
• Relationship managers available for urgent wage releases and cash deposits
ANZ Bank
• ATMs operational
• EFTPOS network currently down
Location Population No. of households Required Water
Quantity (litres)
Mele (including Dispensary,
Mele Village, Malariku)
6000 1200 60,000
Melemaat 2000 4 0 0 20,000
Teuma Ville Stage 1 & 2 2 0 0 0 400 20,000
Location Damaged assets
Mele – Malariku 1 x 10,000 L – damaged
Dispensary 1 x 10,000 L – damaged
1 x 1,100 L – damaged
Mele Village 7 × 10,000 L – 2 x damaged
Melemaat 1 x 6,000 L – tank stand damaged
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
• Port Vila branch working to resume full service
National Bank of Vanuatu
Head office sustain damages affecting branch network
• Working to restore additional services
WASH Cluster
• Assessment completed at Mele, Melemaat, Teouma, Prima, Korman, Club Hippique and
Erakor.
• Water is currently delivering emergency water to key areas.
• Jerry cans supplied at Ifira Island (200), Number of People reached (1000)
Response Activities Planned:
• Water trucking – The priority areas identified currently for water trucking are as follows:
Mele, Melemaat, Teouma Ville, Tanvasako Area Council, and Etas.
• Water quality testing – To ensure a representative assessment of water quality across
the entire supply system, samples wil be collected from storage tanks, distribution
points, and the borehole source. This comprehensive sampling approach aims to provide
an accurate evaluation of the water quality post-earthquake.
• Samples will be collected from key distribution locations, including: Stella Mare, Club
Hippique, Erakor Village, Dream Cove, Paradise Cove, Pompidou Office, Malapoa, Road
to Mele, Ranche de la Colle, Airport Fire Station and Tagabe Pump Station.
• To assess water quality from storage facilities, samples will also be taken from the
following reservoirs: Wharf Tank, Tribunal Tank (RBV), Perchoir Tank (Joint Court
hilltop), Facio Tank, Ohlen
• Quick fixing – In Mele, a single water system is used. Damage to several assets was
identified during site assessments and a quick fix is required. Pipes and fittings wil need
to be supplied.
:
ADRA will provide a response to the Tanvasako area for emergency water trucking.
World Vision is mobilizing a team to Etas to provide water.
• Care International will support and distribute hygiene kits (provided by DoWR and
UNICEF) to people in Evacuation Centres in collaboration with the DECM Cluster.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
Logistics Cluster
Warehouse Management
• Scouted 2 warehouses for storage space, both sites confirmed 1. Customs Department
Warehouse (Tagabe Area) and 2. VMF Camp for storage.
• Flights (Domestic and International) Management:
New Zealand Flight
– Thursday 19 th December 2024, C-17 Aircraft
– Time TBC, Saturday 21 st December 2024, Aircraft TBC.
Australia
– 13:00, Thursday 20 th December 2024, C130 Aircraft.
– 17:00, Thursday 20 th December 2024, C17 Aircraft.
• Fleet Management – Total of 14 vehicle fleet supporting the operations of search and
rescue, assessment and information gathering, expecting increase in fleet management
with support from partners.
Fuel supply to support the efforts of the WASH Cluster for water tracking
• Ongoing Requests for Assistance Management
Health Cluster
• According to the VCH, there are 12 confirmed deaths related to the earthquake as of
Friday, December 20. The search and rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the number of
deaths is expected to rise. There are 210 injuries reported at VCH.
• Indirect or delayed impact
Expecting a rise of water related diseases due to lack of water and hygiene.
MOH and partners are monitoring the situation for potential outbreaks that can
affect population health.
• •
SHEFA Health EOC activated.
There have been no reported casualties outside of Efate Island.
All urban, peri-urban and rural health facilities appear to be undamaged and operational.
• HELPR-1 completed casualty, facilities, and food availability assessments across South
Epi and Shepherd Islands. Potential food security problem in Mataso.
• Surveillance sentinel sites have been activated in Port Vila and Efate.
Surveillance added in VMF clinic.
• Monitoring possible rise in asthma and respiratory cases.
• Watery diarrhea cases have been going down before December 17, but are expected to
i n c r e a s e d u e to water
: sorearted increase in syndromes as of 18th December 2024. Reports received from
two sites (VCH and VMF
: Enhanced sentinel sites folowing the earthquake have been identified and wil begin
reporting in the coming days.
• Influenza like illness and watery diarrhoea have declined steadily for the past 4
EpiWeeks. However, with the current situation we will closely monitor reports for any
changes.
• Syndrome’s Situation following the earthquake will be updated in the coming days.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
• Scabies, Varicella (Chickenpox), Conjunctivitis, Ciguatera Fish poisoning and sexually
transmitted infections (Hep B, Syphilis) were present before the earthquake and will be
closely monitored to see the impact following the earthquake
• 16 Emergency Medical Teams in-country international medical personnels:
– AUSMAT based at VCH 2 = Nurses; 2 = Medical Officers; 1 = Logistics; 1
AUS1 based at VMF 7 = Search and Rescue
– NZMAT at VCH 3 = Coordination support
Emergency & Telecommunication Cluster (ETC)
Needs:
To restore telecommunication connectivity (Voice and data) to Port Vila populations.
• To restore Government Broadband Network connectivity to all government agencies to
ensure continued operations of their services.
Response Activities Completed:
• Government
Restore connectivity of GBN to all government essential services for temporary office
relocations
– Allocation of office space within the premises of the Government Data Center to
Department of Finance for procurement
Provide public Wi-Fi to Saralana Park area, Freshwota Park area
Send key SMS messages to public
• NETC Cluster Members
Support to Mobile Network Operators to restore mobile network coverage and services
Support the restoration of Bank ATM network through the Mobile Network Operators at
various locations throughout Port Vila
– Ongoing support to ICL for restoration of Cable Landing Station
Food Security & Agriculture Cluster (FSAC)
Response Activities Completed:
• Conducted a ministerial briefing with the Minister on 19th Dec and with MALFFB staff
members later around 3pm.
• Completed response plan budget report required by NDMO and DG’s report required by
• Conducted FSAC Meeting #1 with partners on Friday 20th Dec around 2pm at the
MALFFB Farea.
Urgent priorities
• Starlink & monitoring equipment urgently needed for VFD and FSAC EOC
• Nutrition Balanced food ration statement
• Departments to provide a list of staff wanting to return to Vanuatu
• Evacuation centre from logistics Cluster and DECM cluster
• Dry ration responsibility
1 x 200 liters of diesel for supporting WASH cluster at North Efate
1 x generator to support WASH cluster works at North Efate area.
• Road upgrade for Blacksands – Manples area to prepare for upcoming rainy weather
this weekend
• Need to upgrade bridges at Tagabe and Blacksands.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
G a p s & C o n s t r a i n t s :
Data needed to properly plan for distributions to evacuation centers for displaced
c o m m u n i t i e s
• Proper record of all affected people who lost their jobs due to building collapse and not
safe for entry.
Education Cluster
• Damage assessment was carried out in MOET Building, Curriculum Building, Shefa PEO
Office, Examination and SBM Unit Office on Thursday, 19th/12/24
• Education Cluster activation on Thursday 19/12/24.
• Staff Meeting was contacted by the Minister and DG and to recall all staff to resume
duties on Friday, 20/12/24.
• Al Examination and SMB Unit staff were reallocated to the MOET Building to ensure that
examination marking continues.
Examination Results will be published by Wednesday, 15/01/25 as planned.
Established School (ECCE; Primary: Secondary and Post Schooling and Training
Institutions)
• Rapid and Details assessment will be carried out on Friday, 20*h December 2024.
• In preparation for the 2025 academic year, the MOET will use the Lenakel Secondary
School IT learning platform to integrate with schools that are damaged.
Displacement Evacuation Center Management (DECM) Cluster
• 1154 persons displaced
Areas assessed:
• Manples / Britano / Kaweriki: Displaced communities of Blacksands Zone 2-5 and
Prima Zone 1 are being hosted in Manples, Britano and Kaweriki
Total number of displaced persons is 799 individuals.
• 4 Kona: Displaced communirs on is 79a individua2 have relocated to 4 Kona. 145
persons displaced to 2 separate locations (private houses) within 4 Kona area. These
two locations are 4 Kona Police Clinton’s residence (hosting 67 persons / 16
households) and Janet Ben private residence (hosting 78 persons / 19 households).
People are staying within these private residential yards but sleeping outside without any
shelter. CDCCC of Blacksands Zone 2 organised the hosting with private residences.
• Melemaat: 1 household – 3 displaced persons (house fully cracked, house unsafe for
sleeping).
• Mele Waisisi: 10 households
• Eratap and Erakor: 207 total displaced people with a lot of damaged
• Sites that have been assessed but are not showing are Erangorango and Mangaliliu
• Willingness to host survey is ongoing for EVC sites to host families.
Needs:
• Immediate needs reported directly from displaced and host communities in Manples,
Britano, Kaweriki, 4 Kona. Eratap and Erakor include:
• Water: Only accessible water available now is rainwater tanks and underground wells.
No further sources of water are available.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VoIP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
• Food: Host households are experiencing a heavy burden of feeding large numbers of
displaced persons being hosted. Request assistance with food relief. Communities and
churches are providing a small amount of food but this is not enough to meet food needs
of displaced populations.
• Shelter: Tents or tarpaulins – these are required for displaced families to sleep outside in
the host household yards, and in the case that they would return to their homes in
Blacksands. Displaced families are aware that it will take time to return home however
they need shelter while they repair.
• Hygiene and Sanitation: Issues with toilets being reported around sanitation. Bush
toilets being used due to overuse of private host household toilets overcapacity. Poor
health and hygiene being reported.
• Gender and Protection: Majority of persons displaced are vulnerable groups including
women, pregnant mothers and lactating mothers, children, elderly and people with
disabilities. No electricity yet connected in this area – need solar lights for night time
security due to large populations residing within host household yards.
• Health: People with bone fractures reported who have visited hospital but need support
and checks again + medication for pain management. Minor health issues also reported
by those who helped to move vulnerable individuals are reporting back and chest injuries
from labour. Diabetic issues have been reported within the displaced population. No
health checks yet conducted in this area but are requested from the displaced
population.
G e n d e r & Protection Cluster
Share Key messages on GBViE through SMS & social media
• Conduct observation assessments with displaced persons particularly living in the open
space areas and under tents, focusing on target areas including Tagabe, Bladinere,
Rangorango, Teouma, Erakor Bridge as at 21st December 2024
• Vanuatu Women’s Council Center provide counselling services through the duration of
SOE and also accessible through free line 161
• Disability Sub Cluster
Share key messages for disability inclusion through SMS, FB & radio &
at evacuation sites
– Community awareness with persons with disability in the different wards
Identify operational clinics by Health cluster
Identify shops open in the areas
Check with WASH for water trucking
Check with FSAC for food distributions to persons with disability
Facilitate assessments with persons with disability and their devices
• Child Protection
Media campaign for 10 days on children and parents by World Vision was held
yesterday 20/12/2024
World Vision setup pastoral care in Correctional Centres for inmates
Just Play Program set up 6 teams for soccer games with children starting today
– COMS instruction for VCC to instruct churches to standby for pastoral support
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VolP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
A U S T R A L I A
• DART search and rescue team have completed operations at Billabong and are now
conducting structural assessments of buildings and the wharf landslide area to assess
road clearance requirements.
• AuSAT emergency medical assessment team are treating patients at Vila Central
Hospital and assisting the Ministry of Health to assess needs for future support.
• The Australian Defence Force are coordinating incoming flights, including 2 flights today
carrying 8 L-palettes of humanitarian supplies for NDMO and Vanuatu Red Cross,
essential personnel to assess the airport and fuel pipeline at the wharf, and additional
structural engineers.
• Australian Federal Police are assisting VPF with policing and disaster victim
identification. 5 additional officers will arrive on 20th December.
NEW ZEALAND
• NZ flights details as of 19 December 2024
– 7am P-8 Surveillance flight
– 8am – 10am C130 with USAR kits + relief supplies + FPT – NZ 27015
– 11am – 1pm from Noumea with USAR team + kits – NZ 27002
– 3pm – 5pm 757 with departing Kiwis – NZ 7572
FRANCE
• One PUMA helicopter to provide ISR & movement support
• 2 FARDIER vehicles to provide support movement in non reachable areas
1 Falcon 200 ISR plane to conduct on call ISR operations from New Caledonia
• Airport control tower and runway expertises
Infrastructure expertise on the NDMO building
300 solar lamps schedule to arrive on December 21st
• 2 purification station with both an 4m3/hour safe drinking water production with 8
o p e r a t o r s ,schedule to arrive on December 21st
• 20 tons of rice schedule to arrive on December 23th
1500 Meal Ready to Eat schedule to arrive on December 22th
300 16m2 tents schedule to arrive on December 23th
300 hygiene kits to provide hygiene for 1000pers, schedule to arrive on December 21th
294 props of 2,4 meters to reinforce building, schedule to arrive on December 20th
CHINA
The Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation donated relief supplies to
the NEOC to support local response efforts.
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
National Disaster Management Office
Phone: +678 22699/ +678 33366 VoIP: 5353 Email: [email protected]
Private Mail Bag 9107, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Web: www.ndmo.gov.vu
PACIFIC HUMANITARIAN TEAM (PHT)
The Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT), in collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu, is
mobilizing comprehensive support to address the impacts of the recent earthquake. Key areas
of response include:
• In response to the Government of Vanuatu’s request, the PHT has assembled an offer of
support through regional clusters, working closely with national clusters and sectors to
ensure aligned and effective response efforts.
• OCHA personnel on the ground are actively supporting Information Management (IM)
and are committed to strengthening government-led coordination and response
initiatives.
• The UNDAC team has been activated to assist with disaster response coordination,
Environmental specialists are addressing critical e n v i r o n m e n t a l
hazards posed by the earthquake.
• IM support is being provided through the digitization of assessments using the Kobo
platform and the 5W reporting tool, enabling accurate tracking of who is doing what,
where, when, and for whom.
• The Emergency Relief Coordinator has approved an initial allocation of up to $1 million
through the CERF rapid response mechanism to support immediate life-saving activities
PM8 9107
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Tel: 22699
Egov: 5953
(001)
Mr. Jimmy Naura
Acting Director – National Disaster Management Office
EMENT.