Vanuatu Assist 2024

The Pacific Response Group’s first deployment was to Vanuatu following the following the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck on 17 December 2024.

The Pacific Response Group supported the Vanuatu Mobile Force and the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office during the response. Following liaison with ni-Van authorities, it was determined that follow-on military forces were not required. This inaugural deployment successfully tested the Pacific Special Advisory Team’s ability to mobilise quickly and offer support to civilian response leads.

Assistance efforts in Port Villa following the Vanuatu earthquake.
Commander of the Pacific Response Group, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Hill, briefs the six Pacific Response Group deployed personnel to provide specialist planning support for Vanuatu following the earthquake on 17 December 2024.
At the request of the Vanuatu Government, Defence deployed six personnel from the Pacific Response Group into Vanuatu to provide specialist planning support following the Vanuatu earthquake on 17 December 2024.
Australians are assisted off a C-130J Hercules at Brisbane Airport following the earthquake which struck Port Vila, Vanuatu.
The Pacific Response Group used a C-17A Globemaster III for rapid deployment to Vanuatu.