Several aftershocks followed the quake, and another magnitude 6.1 tremor struck early on Wednesday, Geoscience Australia and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said.

Greenwood said Vanuatu’s main hospital had been damaged, and the water supply had been compromised.

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has confirmed there were no Australian casualties or serious injuries: “I think there are small scrapes which are being handled.”

Australia’s first responders from the disaster-response team landed in Port Villa on Wednesday afternoon, as part of a $2 million immediate response, following the pledge from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday night to offer assistance.

Initial support includes a 64-person team and two sniffer dogs, to help with search and rescue operations. The Australian Defence Force also dispatched a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules.

“We send our deepest condolences following this dreadful tragedy,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

“My message to the people of Vanuatu is Australia is here to help. This immediate package of support will ensure those in urgent need receive lifesaving assistance.”

Trapped in buildings

Amanda Laithwaite said her husband was among rescuers searching for eight people they could hear yelling inside a collapsed building.

Three people were pulled alive from the rubble overnight, according to her husband Michael Thompson, who runs a zipline adventure business.

“Three people have been removed alive with one in a very serious condition ... incredible displays of bravery with people entering confined spaces to conduct rescues,” Thompson said in a Facebook update.

All flights grounded

Vanuatu-based journalist Dan McGarry told The Associated Press a “massive landslide” at the international shipping terminal would impede recovery efforts. The airport’s runway was also damaged, he said.

Some airlines in Australia and the Pacific have cancelled or paused flights scheduled for Wednesday and later in the week, and are awaiting news of the airport’s status.

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Virgin Australia has paused all commercial outbound flights from Australia to Port Vila up to Sunday, with repatriation flights on standby.

Solomon Airlines has cancelled flights to and from Port Vila up to the end of Thursday, December 19.

Jetstar has cancelled its Wednesday services between Sydney and Port Vila.

Passengers who no longer wish to travel to Vanuatu may be eligible to rebook, cancel or exchange for vouchers, with many airlines offering flexible arrangements for travel booked up to January 5.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, one of the largest ships to cruise Australian waters, cancelled a planned visit to Port Vila for Wednesday. The ship was instead visiting another stop in Vanuatu, the uninhabited Mystery Island, which is unaffected.

Several Carnival cruise ships have cancelled upcoming stops in Port Vila from Saturday to Monday, including P&O Pacific Encounter, P&O Pacific Adventure and Carnival Luminosa.

Embassies are damaged

A building housing a number of diplomatic missions in Port Vila – including those of the United States, Britain, France and New Zealand – was significantly damaged but most of the staff were reported safe.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said officials have accounted for all but two of its embassy staff. Australia’s Foreign Ministry said its workers were safe.

Ring of fire

Vanuatu’s position on a subduction zone – where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate moves beneath the Pacific Plate – means earthquakes of greater than magnitude six are not uncommon, and the country’s buildings are intended to withstand quake damage.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck 30 kilometres west of the coast of Port Vila at a depth of 10 kilometres. The depth has since been revised to 57.1 kilometres.

The disaster has also occurred at a moment of political turmoil in the Melanesian country.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai dissolved parliament last month, setting the stage for a snap election on January 14, only for opposition MPs to mount a constitutional challenge to the move.