An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck Vanuatu's capital Port Vila on Tuesday, killing at least six people and damaging two reservoirs and a hospital, according to local media and the United Nations. National broadcaster VBTC showed footage of vehicles crushed under the debris of collapsed buildings and boulders strewn across a highway.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 57 kilometres (35 miles) and was centred 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Port Vila, the largest city in Vanuatu, a group of 80 islands that is home to about 330,

The embassy "sustained considerable damage during the earthquake and is closed until further notice," U.S. officials said in a statement.