"We must explore every option": Vanuatu representative brings climate battle to the ICJ

A powerful magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the Coral Sea near Ureparapara Island, Vanuatu, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 7:19 PM local time (Pacific/Efate GMT +11). The earthquake occurred at a moderate depth of 225 km (140 mi) and went unreported as being felt by residents.

Critical infrastructure, such as communication lines and drinking water reservoirs, has suffered significant damage as rescue teams work urgently to locate survivors. Port Vila Hospital has been severely impacted, prompting the setup of tents outside to accommodate the growing number of patients, raising serious concerns that the death toll may increase. 

A building that houses the diplomatic missions of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand was particularly hard hit, with the ground floor of the US embassy collapsing under the weight of the upper floors.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has reported a magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Sola, Torba Province, Vanuatu, occurring just 8 minutes ago. The quake struck on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, at 7:19 PM local time, at a depth of 215.20 km, which is considered intermediate to significant. The reported magnitude, epicenter, and depth may be updated in the coming hours or minutes as seismologists analyze the data and refine their assessments, or as additional reports from other agencies become available.

The nearest larger town where the earthquake may have been felt is Sola, a community of 1,200 residents located 70 km (43 mi) southeast of the epicenter. Residents there likely experienced mild shaking. In Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, which is 502 km (312 mi) from the epicenter, the tremors were probably perceived as very weak.