Natural Disasters
Morning Report Essentials for Wednesday 18 December 2024
On today's episode, the death toll from Vanuatu's 7.3 earthquake is expected to rise because concrete buildings have collapsed with people inside in the capital Port Vila, and the Treasury's half-year… Audio
NZ Red Cross on standby after large quake in Vanuatu
The New Zealand Red Cross says it's on standby to support colleagues in Vanuatu. New Zealand Red Cross secretary general Sarah Stuart-Black spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Foreign Minister Winston Peters on New Zealand's response to Vanuatu earthquake
New Zealand is ready to provide assistance to Vanuatu if needed, after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake near the capital Port Vila on Tuesday, damaging buildings and infrastructure. Foreign Minister Winston… Audio
Rescuers searching for survivors after Vanuatu earthquake
The Vanuatu MetService is advising people near coastal areas to stay on higher ground due to the risk of tsunami from the aftershocks. RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Buildings collapse after major earthquake in Vanuatu
A woman caught up in the Vanuatu earthquake says she could hear screaming coming from people trapped in a collapsed building next door. Emma Thompson spoke to our reporter Maia Ingoe hours after the… Audio
Vanuatu Business Resilience Council chair on earthquake
Vanuatu's caretaker Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, says his country is in urgent need of international assistance. Glen Craig is the Chair of the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council and he was having… Audio
Large 7.3 earthquake hits Vanuatu
The Vanuatu MetService is recommending people near coastal areas stay on higher ground due to a potential for Tsunami triggered by aftershocks. Audio
Death toll expected to rise after Vanuatu earthquake
The death toll from the earthquake in Vanuatu now stands at 14 and is expected to rise. 200 people have been treated with injuries at the main hospital in the capital Port Villa. Audio
What's going on under the ground in Vanuatu?
Maggie Tweedie speaks to geophysicist Dr Kasper van Wijk from the University of Auckland, who was in Vanuatu last year looking at the volcano Mount Yasur. Audio
Damage widespread, infrastructure crippled after Vanuatu quake
"For the Pacific, it's the worst … I have seen in terms of earthquake damage," a Red Cross leader says.
Vanuatu quake: Seasonal worker in NZ fears for young family at home
![This screengrab taken from handout video footage posted on the Facebook account of Michael Thompson on December 17, 2024 shows a member of security inspecting a collapsed building in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila after a powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island. - The 7.3-magnitude quake struck on December 17 at a depth of 57 kilometres (35 miles), some 30 kilometres off the coast of Efate, Vanuatu's main island, at 12:47 pm (0147 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. (Photo by MICHAEL THOMPSON / Facebook account of Michael Thompson / AFP) / NO USE AFTER JANUARY 16, 2025 05:59:55 GMT - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT «AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK / MICHAEL THOMPSON» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [- NO ARCHIVE ]](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--MkG_ebhp--/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_288/v1734418334/4KF0NL2_AFP__20241217__36QJ7DV__v1__HighRes__VanuatuEarthquakeDamage_jpg?_a=BACCd2AD)
His wife and four children live on an island, and he's not had contact with them since the quake hit.
French Island of Mayotte hit by devastating cyclone
Close to a thousand people are feared to be dead after the worst cyclone in 90 years struck the French island of Mayotte. Paris correspondent Ross Cullen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Nearly two years on, Hawke's Bay marks post-cyclone milestone
The months following the cyclone were a "massive challenge", the taskforce lead says.
Wellington residents jolted awake by shallow earthquake
The magnitude 3.9 quake registered at a depth of 14 kilometres.
Plate tectonics: Graham Leonard
This week GNS released a high resolution update to the national Active Faults Database, detailing where the active faults are across the motu. Audio
Memorial service held for 5th anniversary of Whakaari eruption
Survivors, rescuers and locals have gathered on Monday morning at Whakatane Heads to remember the fateful day five years ago, when Whakaari erupted - killing 22, injuring others and forever scarring… Audio
Memorial events held to mark five years since Whakaari White Island eruption
Monday marks five years since the Whakaari White island eruption that claimed 22 lives in 2019. Mark Inman whose brother Hayden Marshall-Inman, a tour guide, died in the Whakaari eruption, spoke to… Audio
Memorial service marks fifth anniversary of Whakaari White Island eruption
The fifth anniversary of the eruption of Whakaari White Island is unfolding in Whakatane on Monday morning, with survivors and families of those killed as well as dignitaries travelling from New… Audio
Whakaari eruption survivors to attend service marking 5th anniversary
The survivors and their families will get the first private viewing of the design for a memorial proposed to honour the dead.
Large earthquake triggers tsunami warning in California
A tsunami warning is in effect for California's coast after a magnitude CCN 7.0 earthquake, about 80-kilometres from the city of Eureka. City of Eureka assistant city manager Pam Powell spoke to… Audio
