A deadly earthquake has struck the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, damaging buildings in the capital, including one housing the U.S. embassy.

The quake briefly prompted a tsunami alert for parts of Vanuatu, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System, which is part of the National Weather Service. As of 2:14 p.m. local time, U.S. officials said the threat had passed.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck Vanuatu's capital Port Vila on Tuesday, killing at least six people and damaging two reservoirs and a hospital, according to local media and the United Nations. National broadcaster VBTC showed footage of vehicles crushed under the debris of collapsed buildings and boulders strewn across a highway.

A powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, damaging buildings in the capital, Port Vila, including one housing the U.S. Embassy. A witness said bodies were seen in the city.

Video shows the embassy wrecked after the powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila.

Six people are reportedly dead, and buildings and cars are damaged after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the capital of Vanuatu, a country west of Fiji. On Tuesday, the earthquake struck less than 20 miles west of Port Vila, Vanuatu's capital, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Witnesses in Vanuatu recounted the moment a violent magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the South Pacific island ...

At least one person was killed after a powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the main island of Vanuatu in the South Pacific on Tuesday, triggering landslips, flattening buildings and cutting power and communications.

Videos show damage in capital Port Vila including to building housing British embassy, and several small tsunami waves measuring 25cm observed before warnings were later lifted

The embassy "sustained considerable damage during the earthquake and is closed until further notice," U.S. officials said in a statement.

Witnesses in Vanuatu recounted the moment a violent magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the South Pacific island nation on Tuesday.

Here's what we know about the major earthquake that struck the Pacific Island nation and triggered tsunami warnings.