Indonesia Struggles to Contact Citizens After Vanuatu Earthquake
Communication Blackout in Vanuatu After Powerful Earthquake Leaves Indonesian Officials Searching for Citizens
Canberra,Australia – A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck teh island nation of Vanuatu on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, leaving Indonesian officials scrambling to contact citizens and diaspora members in the region.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through it’s embassy in Canberra, has been working tirelessly to establish communication with the 48 Indonesians known to be in Vanuatu. Though, efforts have been hampered by a complete breakdown of telecommunications in Port Vila, the nation’s capital.
“The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra is actively trying to reach our citizens, diaspora, and colleagues in Vanuatu,” said Hartyo Harkomoyo, Director of Information and Media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We are also attempting to contact officials and local contacts, but communication remains impossible at this time.”
According to Harkomoyo, 47 of the Indonesians in Vanuatu are crew members aboard ships, while one is a citizen married to a foreign national. The extent of the damage and potential casualties in Vanuatu remains unknown due to the ongoing communication blackout.The Indonesian government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide assistance once communication is restored and the full extent of the disaster becomes clear.
Interaction Blackout Hinders Efforts to reach Indonesians in Quake-Stricken Vanuatu
Canberra, Australia – A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the island nation of Vanuatu on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, plunging its capital, Port Vila, into a communication blackout. This has left indonesian officials frantically trying to locate and connect with the 48 Indonesian citizens known to be in the region.
hartyo Harkomoyo, Director of Information and Media at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed the urgency of the situation. “The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra is actively trying to reach our citizens, diaspora, and colleagues in Vanuatu,” he stated. “We are also attempting to contact officials and local contacts, but communication remains unfeasible at this time.”
Of the 48 Indonesians in Vanuatu, 47 are crew members aboard ships, while one is a citizen married to a foreign national. The extent of damage and potential casualties in Vanuatu remains unknown due to the lack of communication.
The Indonesian government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide assistance once communication is restored and the full extent of the disaster becomes clear.