The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM) has launched an appeal for assistance after a magnitude 7.3 eathquake rocked the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, killing at least 16 and injuring several hundred people. Telephone, electric and water services have been badly damaged or destroyed in Port Vila, the largest city in Vanuatu, a group of 80 islands home to about 330,000 people.
Anglican Missions in New Zealand has launched an appeal to assist the province, whose diocese of Vanuatu is headquartered in Port Vila. Seismologists report the epicenter of the earthquake was 19 miles west of Port Vila on the island of Efate, was measured to have struck at a depth of 35 mies below the surface. The Red Cross reports one in three people on Vanuatu have been directly impacted by the earthquake.
In a post on its Facebook account, ACoM said it was dispatching the MV Southern Cross from Honiarai to Vanuatu with relief supplies and was asking the public for assistance. “If you are around Honiara and wishing to donate something towards our brothers and sisters in Vanuatu following the recent disaster (earthquake), please come to ACOM Provincial Headquarters opposite Point Cruz Bulkshop. Just anything you wish to donate. Our staff are at the office to facilitate your donated goods”, the statement said.
The Church-owned MV Southern Cross will depart for Vanuatu this Friday evening to provide free food supplies to the victims of the earthquake.
Details about the extent of the damage are scarce, as communications with Vanuatu has been by short wave radio, due to the damaged communications lines.
