An Australian businessman has been hailed as a hero for working through the night to free locals trapped under collapsed buildings after Vanuatu was devastated by a series of huge earthquakes.
The Pacific island nation was hit by two massive earthquakes of magnitude 7.4 and 6.1 less than 24 hours apart, killing at least 14 people, with the death toll expected to rise.
Rescue efforts are urgently underway and survivors can be heard beneath the ruins of shattered buildings in the capital, Port Vila, following the first earthquake on Tuesday afternoon.
Australian expatriate Michael Thompson immediately joined Vanuatu special forces and other volunteers in digging through the rubble 24 hours a day.
“Rescue operations continue at the Billabong building on Main Street,” Thompson revealed in a social media update at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday.
‘Three people have been removed alive and one of them is in very serious condition.
‘Road rescue team, police, Vanuatu Mobile Force and volunteers are working well into the night with another fourth person showing signs of life, still trapped near the outer edge of the building.
“Incredible displays of bravery with people entering confidential spaces to perform rescues.”
The headquarters of Thompson’s Zipline tourism business lies just meters from the widespread destruction in which one of the worst affected was a building that housed the diplomatic posts of the United States, United Kingdom, France and New Zealand.
Michael Thompson (pictured) has turned his office into a makeshift communications centre.
Rescuers pulled out a local woman who was found alive after being trapped under the rubble.
Local zipline owner Michael Thompson says there have been incredible scenes of bravery as rescue workers crawl into small spaces.
Thompson has been helping tirelessly since the first earthquake hit Tuesday afternoon.
Special forces remain on the ground searching for survivors.
Mr Thompson has asked for specific tools and machinery to help. Pictured is Tuesday night’s rescue effort.
With nearly all of the island’s networks down, Thompson immediately set up a makeshift communications base using his Starlink satellite network run by Elon Musk.
Within hours, it began posting regular updates to its social media accounts relaying essential information about the devastation, offering a lifeline to hundreds of grateful locals and tourists.
“Thank you Michael, keep recording us and updating us and posting whatever you need to, I appreciate it, stay safe,” one follower wrote.
Another added: “This is so traumatic and terrible for everyone, thank you for being so involved and keeping up the updates.”
Thompson continued to call for urgent help requesting machinery, batteries and water throughout the night and afternoon as they battled mid-morning temperatures of 32°C.
Their images have revealed scenes of devastation including crushed vehicles, landslides and injured victims being transported or carried on stretchers to safety.
Critical infrastructure, including communication lines and drinking water reservoirs, has been destroyed.
Port Vila hospital has been severely damaged and tents have been set up outside amid an influx of patients and the death toll is feared to rise.
Entire buildings have been completely destroyed and there are still people inside.
Thompson moved to Vanuatu a year ago to open a zipline tourism business.
Huge boulders have crushed and blocked roads
Tuesday’s earthquake created huge potholes on the roads
Communications also failed across several government services, making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage.
Vanuatu is a growing tourist destination and Jetstar launched its first direct flight from Sydney to Port Vila last week.
All inbound and outbound flights are currently suspended, leaving many tourists stranded.
The picturesque tropical island also welcomes up to three cruise ships from Australia and New Zealand each week.
The port closed and scheduled cruise ship docking was cancelled.
Vanuatu’s interim Prime Minister Charlot Salawi declared a state of emergency for seven days on Wednesday morning.
Includes curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., except for essential services.
The small Pacific nation was already recovering from the ravages of two cyclones in March last year.
Category 4 tropical cyclones Kevin and Judy hit Port Vila and the surrounding area, leaving a trail of destruction.