On 16th December 2024, Port Vila, Vanuatu, was struck by a devastating magnitude 7.3 earthquake, leaving the island nation grappling with widespread destruction, missing survivors, and mounting casualties.
The quake, centred just 19 miles from Port Vila, occurred at 12:47 pm local time and was followed by aftershocks reaching magnitudes of up to 5.5.
Amid the tragedy, Carnival Cruise Line has stepped forward with a $60,000 donation to ProMedical Vanuatu, a critical paramedic service assisting in search and rescue operations and providing emergency medical care.
“Carnival Corporation & plc is donating $60,000 to first responder, ProMedical Vanuatu. The ProMedical team worked around the clock for the first 48 hours after tragedy struck in Port Vila, searching for survivors in the rubble and helping provide critical medical care to the injured,”
“This donation has been made possible thanks to all of Carnival Corporation & plc cruise lines operating in the region – Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, and P&O Cruises Australia as well as the generosity of P&O guests,”
Carnival statement.
The donation will help ProMedical Vanuatu continue its vital work in Port Vila, which is home to over 49,000 residents.
Vanuatu faces a long road to recovery
The capital city of Port Vila, located on Efate Island in Vanuatu’s South Pacific archipelago, has suffered significant damage, including to government buildings housing key embassies, as well as power and water supply disruptions.
The port area itself has been severely impacted, with landslides isolating the shipping terminal and burying sections of the wharf.
Caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has declared a state of emergency in Port Vila and imposed a curfew in the hardest-hit areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., set to last until at least December 23.
Compounding the crisis, a low-pressure system is approaching Vanuatu, threatening heavy rains and the possibility of a cyclone. In a Facebook video, Vanuatu President Nikenike Vurobaravu warned of “cascading hazards” and urged caution in affected areas.
Cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and others, have suspended ship calls to Port Vila until damage can be fully assessed and necessary repairs are completed.
Carnival has pledged to remain in contact with Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office and offered its ships for additional assistance if required.
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