Emotional moment Aussie families are reunited after escaping the carnage of Vanuatu where a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck leaving the holiday island in ruin
More Aussies left stranded in Vanuatu after a deadly magnitude 7.3 earthquake rocked the Pacific island nation have arrived home.
Hundreds of passengers touched down at Brisbane’s International Airport at about on Thursday night after two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) planes were dispatched to the region to bring holidaymakers home.
Families with young children and teens were among those caught up in the chaos on the island nation, waiting for a way home.
The first plane departed Port Vila and arrived in the Queensland capital at about 6pm, a day after 148 fellow Aussies were flown home.
Photos showed travellers disembarking the RAAF aircraft, happy to be finally home.
They headed inside the airport terminal where they were greeted by loved ones and the waiting media.
Gold Coast mum Chantel Bastock thanked the federal government for organising the last minute flight.
‘We’re home … we’re safe, thank you to the Australian Defence Force, we love you guys,’ she said.
Chantel Bastock (pictured with son Darcy) was among those happy to be back on home soil
Hundreds of passengers (pictured) touched down at Brisbane’s International Airport on Thursday evening after two emergency RAAF planes were dispatched to the region
Young families were among the Aussie holidaymakers relieved to be home on Thursday night
Travellers caught up in the earthquake disaster made their way inside the airport terminal where they were greeted by loved ones
Some travellers were seen thanking the crew members from the aircraft by shaking their hands.
The quake, which occurred at 12.47pm on Tuesday, struck an area 30km west of Port Vila, causing multiple buildings to collapse in the bustling tourist hotspot.
At least 14 people have been killed and 116,000 civilians are understood to be affected by the natural disaster. Authorities expect the death toll to climb.
No Australians have been confirmed dead in the earthquake to date
The Red Cross reporting at least 200 people have been injured in the disaster.
Pictures from the scene showed a trail of destruction with several buildings flattened by the impact of the quake.
Several cars were crunched under the weight of the collapsed structures.
Locals reported on social media feeling violent shaking for around 30 seconds.
Communications were also affected at the time, including the Australian High Commission’s systems.
Several government agencies and international embassies were also extensively damaged.
One Aussie traveller who arrived home on Thursday night recalled the terrifying moment chaos ensued after the quake struck.
‘[I watched] buildings come down around me and people [started] screaming and running and I had no idea what to do,’ he said.
Emer Entiana was swimming with her family at a lagoon when the water ‘instantly turned brown’
‘We were very far from where we stayed. It was shocking. We were struggling to get back to the hotel because there were landslides everywhere,’ she said.
She has family from Papua New Guinea who remain stranded in Vanuatu.
The passengers were seen walking past the defence plane on the runway (pictured) before they made their way inside the airport terminal
Travellers were seen thanking RAAF aircraft crew (pictured) and shaking their hands
Other Aussies such as Henry described challenges including no communication from the Australian government and a struggle to find accommodation.
He sought help from the Australian High Commission but claimed there was no further communication or support after staff assured him they would arrange accommodation.
A Qantas representative was able to arrange a stay at the Holiday Inn.
But Henry said as of Thursday afternoon, many Australians were frustrated.
‘All Australian guests staying here are feeling very frustrated as no representative from the High Commission has visited the hotel to provide updates,’ he told AAP.
Aussie expat and Vanuatu Cricket chief executive Tim Cutler told Seven News that many fellow Aussies were desperate to leave the island nation and return home.
‘One of them screamed out, ‘we’re going. The high commissioner is flying us home. Thank you for everything’,’ he said.
‘And they literally just dropped their food and ran outside…to get themselves to the airport.’
The international airport runway in Vanuatu was cleared, but it remains closed to commercial traffic for 72 hours to prioritise relief and medivac flights.
Two plane loads of stranded Aussies touched down in Brisbane on Thursday night.
The first RAAF plane touched down in Brisbane at about 6pm on Thursday night. Pictured are travellers relieved to be back on home soil
Pictures from the scene showed a trail of destruction with several buildings flattened (pictured) by the impact of the earthquake
The federal government has sent 64 members of the Disaster Assistance Response Team to help with search and rescue operations and to provide essential health services.
Members of other government agencies including the Australian Medical Assistance Team, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the National Emergency Management Agency have also been deployed.
A rescue and aid package worth $2million will also be delivered.
Vanuatu’s caretaker Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has declared a state of emergency and a seven day curfew has been imposed on the areas that have been most affected.
DFAT is providing consular assistance to affected Australians in the region.
Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong said the government will continue to provide further assistance to Vanuatu.
‘We send our deepest condolences following this dreadful tragedy,’ Minister Wong said in a statement.
‘My message to the people of Vanuatu is Australia is here to help. This immediate package of support will ensure those in urgent need receive lifesaving assistance.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also pledged to ‘assist the people of Vanuatu in any way we can’.
Geoscience Australia recorded a second quake earlier on Wednesday with the agency reporting it as a magnitude 6.0 with a depth of 72km.
