MANILA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday said it has approved a 24.4-million-U.S.-dollar grant to rehabilitate Port Vila's wharf road in Vanuatu, which was severely damaged by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in 2024.
ADB said the financing will restore critical road access to wharves by upgrading the wharf road, Vanuatu's main trade and tourism gateway, with disaster-resilient features to reduce risks from landslides and tropical cyclones.
The earthquake that struck Vanuatu last December caused massive damage to infrastructure across the country, including schools, health facilities, airstrips, and roads.
The destruction of Port Vila's wharf road led to its closure, disrupting shipping, trade, and tourism, and hindering recovery efforts.
Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, such as earthquakes and tropical cyclones. The concentration of homes in low-lying areas and major road networks along coastal zones further compounds disaster risks and exposure. ■
