King Charles has extended his heartfelt thoughts and prayers to a small Oceanic nation devastated by a colossal 7.3 magnitude earthquake. The official death toll, following the original quake of December 17, stands at 14, with over 200 injured, but these numbers are expected to rise.
The King expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy in a statement posted on the Royal Family’s social media channels. He conveyed his sentiments in both English and Tok Pisin, a language spoken in parts of Vanuatu alongside Bislama, the country’s second language.
Tok Pisin is a ‘market language’, used for everyday communication between individuals who do not share a common language. It primarily consists of English vocabulary, though the origins of its syntax remain a topic of debate.
In his statement, King Charles revealed that he and Queen Camilla were “My wife and I have been deeply saddened to learn of the magnitude of the earthquake which struck Vanuatu on Tuesday and the loss of life and property which this devastating natural disaster has left in its wake.”
He further stated: “My wife and I have been deeply saddened to learn of the magnitude of the earthquake which struck Vanuatu on Tuesday and the loss of life and property which this devastating natural disaster has left in its wake.”
He added: “I am aware, from my visit to Vanuatu and Port Vila in 2018, of the extraordinary spirit of ni-Vanuatu, which has been called upon too often in recent years with repeated cyclones and, now, with this terrible earthquake.”
In the wake of catastrophic seismic activity in Vanuatu, His Royal Highness Prince Charles has extended a touching message to the affected: “At this most difficult of times, I wanted you and all the people of Vanuatu to know that you are remembered in our thoughts and prayers, and that we send you all our deepest sympathy and heartfelt wishes. Charles R.”
The country was first rocked by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake some 31km from Port Vila, leaving an indelible mark of devastation. This calamitous event was not the conclusion; subsequent tremors further assaulted the region, with a 5.2 magnitude quake striking near Port Vila on December 18, followed closely by a 6.1 magnitude quake mere days later on December 21, reports the Mirror.
Rescue operations persist as teams fervently search for victims amidst the wreckage. While numerous casualties have been tallied, official figures remain imprecise as some injured individuals have yet to reach medical facilities, the primary one being the heavily damaged Vila Central Hospital, which many are fearful of visiting.
According to UN data, close to 1,000 persons have been rendered homeless. Further worrisome reports suggest around 20,000 residents face a dire lack of potable water, outlines the Independent.
Water-related hazards now loom over the island nation as toxic water threatens public health. Brecht Mommen, a specialist with UNICEF situated in Vanuatu, warns: “It’s a rush against time to get water trucks organized for those areas so that we prevent a second disaster, which is a diarrhea outbreak.”
He further stated that the location of the damaged pipes within the network servicing Port Vila remains unknown, and it is still uncertain how long it will take to locate and repair them all.