In the weeks since a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck just offshore from Vanuatu’s most populous island on Dec. 17, 2024, the Church continues to purchase and deliver essential supplies to communities in need.
All missionaries and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the island nation are safe, according to a news release on the Church’s Pacific Newsroom.
“Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are actively monitoring the situation and assisting communities impacted by the earthquake,” the news release states.
The epicenter for the earthquake was roughly 18 miles (30 kilometers) west of Port Vila, the harborside capital and main hub of Vanuatu. Fourteen people were killed and more than 200 injured in the powerful temblor.
Besides demolishing buildings, the quake also triggered landslides, cutting off roads and bridges and contaminating water sources.
A report from the National Disaster Management Office said roughly 80,000 people were affected and 1,473 displaced from their homes. In the days following the disaster, UNICEF Pacific estimated some 40,000 children were in need of humanitarian assistance.
As of Jan. 8, RNZ Pacific reported, power, water and phone services had largely been restored but internet was still mostly unavailable.
The Church provided four Starlink satellite units delivered from Auckland, New Zealand, with the support of the New Zealand Defense Force.
Vanuatu — an archipelago of roughly 80 islands — is home to close to 12,000 Latter-day Saints in 39 congregations. The nation has its own mission, and ground was broken last year for a temple in Port Vila.
Located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, Vanuatu is ranked among the world’s most at-risk countries for natural disasters and extreme weather events, according to Reuters.
Prior to the quake, Vanuatu Port Vila Mission President Ben Ball had equipped all missionaries with emergency preparation kits. The Church also maintains shipping containers full of emergency supplies in many Pacific communities, including several in Vanuatu.
Missionaries and local members are focusing on helping those in need, reported Pacific Newsroom.
