A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck 35 km northeast of Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu on the evening of March 30, 2026, damaging critical infrastructure and displacing thousands across the South Pacific island nation.
Scale of the Disaster
The earthquake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 121 km at 19:44 local time, was felt across the provinces of Sanma, Torba, Penama, and Malampa. Schools, hospitals, and bridges sustained significant damage, cutting off communities from essential services. Several aftershocks followed, with the most severe reaching magnitude 5.0. An estimated 30,000 people have been affected and are in urgent need of assistance.
Organizations Responding
The humanitarian response began within 24 hours, with emergency relief reaching affected communities and critical services being restored.
The American Red Cross, coordinating with the Vanuatu Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has mobilized relief efforts to provide emergency shelter, clean water, medical aid, and psychosocial support to affected communities. Volunteers have been delivering psychosocial first aid to impacted families, staff, and responders.
Save the Children has deployed teams to assess the earthquake's impact on children and families. With an estimated 40,000 children among those affected, the organization is providing child-friendly spaces, education kits, and emergency support to ensure children have access to safe environments and continued learning.
UNICEF has also worked alongside the Government of Vanuatu and partners to help more than 30,000 people access water, sanitation and hygiene, education, health, nutrition, and child protection services.
How to Help
The most effective way to support earthquake relief efforts is through monetary donations to established relief organizations. Cash donations allow organizations to purchase supplies locally, reducing costs and supporting Vanuatu's recovery.
Visit our Vanuatu Earthquake disaster page for a complete list of responding organizations and direct donation links. You can also browse our Relief Directory to find other ways to contribute to disaster relief efforts worldwide.