Magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits Pacific island nation of Vanuatu

I think it could have been worse,

McGarry said

We haven’t heard at the moment about any casualties, but I will be shocked if we don’t hear that bad news coming through from Port Vila at some point,

she said

The US Embassy in Port Vila has sustained considerable damage and is closed until further notice,

a spokesperson for the US Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea told CNN

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this earthquake,

the embassy said

That no longer exists. It is just completely flat. The top three floors are still holding but they have dropped,

Thompson said

We are waiting for everyone to get online to know how devastating and traumatic this will be,

Nand told AFP

They're just cracking on with a rescue operation. The support we need from overseas is medical evacuation and skilled rescue, (the) kind(s) of people that can operate in earthquakes,

he said

It was the most violent earthquake I've experienced in my 21 years living in Vanuatu and in the Pacific Islands. I've seen a lot of large earthquakes, never one like this,

he said

There's people in the buildings in town. There were bodies there when we walked past,

one resident told the AFP news agency

If there was anyone in there at the time, then they're gone,

he said

Tsunami waves have been observed,

the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin, predicting waves of up to one metre (about three feet) along some parts of Vanuatu's coastline

If you’re in the affected area, move to higher ground. Monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of local authorities.”

Australian authorities advised travellers