Vanuatu Earthquake

Overview

On March 30, 2026, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck 35 km northeast of Luganville, the main town on Espiritu Santo in Sanma Province, Vanuatu, at 19:44 local time at a depth of approximately 121 km. The quake damaged schools, hospitals, and bridges across Sanma, Torba, Penama, and Malampa provinces, leaving thousands displaced and in urgent need of assistance. Several aftershocks followed, with the largest reaching magnitude 5.0. The Vanuatu Red Cross Society, supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), mobilized relief efforts to provide shelter, clean water, medical aid, and psychosocial support. UNICEF helped more than 30,000 people access water, sanitation, hygiene, education, health, nutrition, and child protection services. Save the Children deployed teams to assess the impact on children and families and provide emergency support including child-friendly spaces and education kits.