Vanuatu Faces Perpetual Recovery
Vanuatu remains in a constant state of rebuilding after a series of devastating natural disasters. The nation continues to endure earthquakes, cyclones, and economic instability. The latest earthquake has left the capital, Port Vila, with condemned buildings, abandoned streets, and a damaged presidential palace.
Figure 1: A crushed car abandoned on the street in Port Vila’s town centre.
Cracks in a Symbol of Diplomacy
The $31 million presidential palace, gifted by China, now stands damaged less than a year after its handover. Wilson Thomas Iauma, a private secretary to Vanuatu’s president, confirmed structural cracks in the building. The Vanuatu Chinese Embassy dismissed the concerns as “inevitable cosmetic damage.”
Figure 2: The Presidential Palace gifted by China stands damaged
The earthquake struck Port Vila with a magnitude of 7.3, killing 14 people and affecting 80,000 lives. It flattened buildings and left the CBD resembling a ghost town. Chinese engineers are now assessing the damage, with Beijing offering $4 million for repairs to five key projects.
Who Should Pay for Reconstruction?
Debate continues over responsibility for reconstruction costs, with damage estimates reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. The earthquake struck while Vanuatu was already recovering from three cyclones in 2023. The country’s economy is struggling, and political instability has led to frequent changes in leadership.
Transparency International Vanuatu’s head, Willie Tokon, emphasised the psychological toll on the population. “The physical side of things … [but] the psychological side of things is much worse — a lot of people are lost,” he said.
Disaster-Prone Nation Struggles to Rebuild
Vanuatu sits within the Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone prone to earthquakes, cyclones, and tsunamis. The country has nine active volcanoes and regularly experiences destructive natural events.
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck at a shallow depth, just 35 kilometres west of Efate island. Critical infrastructure, including hospitals and bridges, suffered severe damage. The government declared a state of emergency as aftershocks continued for weeks.
Figure 3: The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped tectonic belt of earthquakes and volcanoes that borders the Pacific Ocean.
Firsthand Account of the Earthquake
Lillyrose Welwel, a Ni-Vanuatu journalist, described the earthquake’s impact. “I was on the top floor of a building, the whole building shook, things smashed around us … someone even jumped from the building and broke their leg in the chaos,” she said.
Many office workers were on lunch breaks, and schools were closed for holidays, reducing casualties. However, Port Vila’s CBD remains largely closed, with buildings awaiting demolition.
Unsafe Buildings Pose Risks
Local engineers have raised concerns over construction practices. Some older buildings were not designed to withstand earthquakes, while others may not have followed building codes.
Ni-Vanuatu engineer Cyrille Mainguy criticised construction practices in foreign-funded projects. “We must design to codes, and it’s not just a matter of drawing a nice picture and building,” he said.
He pointed to the collapse of Malapoa College classrooms, which China gifted to Vanuatu in 2018. “To them, those blocks are just partition walls, but to me, a block that falls on a kid will kill that person,” Mainguy said.
Figure 4: The now-abandoned Malapoa College
The Chinese embassy stated that China-aided projects are designed to withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes and comply with building codes. However, concerns over compliance with local regulations persist.
Uncertainty Over Reconstruction Plans
Three months after the earthquake, Port Vila remains in demolition mode, with no clear timeline for rebuilding. Many residents live in fear of collapsing buildings.
Rose Taoun, a 60-year-old widow, said she is afraid to sleep in her house near a condemned building. “We are scared … but what can we do? I don’t know how we live like this,” she said.
Businesses are also struggling. George Lapi, who works in drinks distribution, described the earthquake’s economic impact. “This is pulling Vanuatu backwards — 30, 40, 50 years back,” he said. “Maybe it’s best to relocate and turn [the CBD] into a park.”
Foreign Debt and Economic Struggles
Vanuatu relies heavily on foreign aid but faces rising debt, with external debt accounting for 80 per cent of GDP. Only five per cent of the population has insurance, leaving many without financial protection.
The country’s economy has struggled with inflation, declining foreign investments, and skill shortages. Vanuatu’s national airline collapsed in 2023, further damaging the tourism sector.
Willie Tokon warned about the long-term impact of foreign loans. “[Foreign loans are] funding that we have to repay,” he said. “[We need to] think about the future generations who are going to be repaying this.”
Figure 5: Australia offered an additional $10 million support package for Vanuatu earlier this year.
Political Instability Amid Crisis
Vanuatu has had five prime ministers since late 2022. After snap elections in January, Jotham Napat became the new leader. Napat remains optimistic about recovery efforts and has suggested redevelopment plans for the CBD.
“We’re progressing really well … but I want [the CBD] open now,” Napat said. “Given the magnitude of the damage, maybe we could turn the CBD into a more tourism kind of a business, and focus on putting the other main infrastructures in other places.”
Some residents support the plan, while others question its feasibility. The future remains uncertain as Vanuatu continues to face economic and environmental challenges.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Despite the hardships, the people of Vanuatu remain determined to rebuild. Local businessman Anthony Ligo reflected on the nation’s resilience.
“These past few months have been, I would say, life-changing for the people of Vanuatu,” he said. “[But] we will come back stronger, as the people of Vanuatu believe in each other. And as long as we believe in each other, the future is ours.”
