Vanuatu has been hit by another earthquake after hundreds of Australians landed in their homeland from the island, with the federal government announcing new financial support.
The latest magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck 30 kilometers west of the capital Port Vila and shook buildings on the country's main island at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Unlike the first magnitude 7.3 quake on Tuesday, this quake did not trigger a tsunami warning.
That was hours before the federal government announced $5 million in additional humanitarian aid to Vanuatu.
Dozens of Australians returned home from the island nation on a Royal Australian Air Force flight that landed in Brisbane carrying 144 passengers on Sunday.
A total of 568 holidaymakers, workers and other returnees have returned to Australia since Wednesday, with military airlifts delivering humanitarian aid.
The two latest flights come after Vanuatu Airports announced on Sunday that it would reopen Port Vila International Airport to commercial airline operations, raising hopes for an increase in aid and recovery resources.
The Australian government is working with Qantas, Virgin Airways and Jetstar Airways to restart flights.
Qantas and Virgin Airways operate the Port Vilar-Brisbane route on Sunday, with Jetstar also operating on the same route on Monday.
Two more final ADF flights from Vanuatu are scheduled for Sunday.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Port Vila on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people, injuring at least 200, and causing severe damage to the city and surrounding areas.
The number of dead and injured is expected to rise further as search and rescue operations continue.
A potential health crisis also looms, as aid workers believe around 20,000 people on the island lack access to clean water.
Brecht Momen, a UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene expert based in Vanuatu, warned that the disease was likely to spread.
The extent of damage to Port Vila's water infrastructure remains unclear, and the timeline for repairs is unclear.
The latest RAAF flight delivered 9.5 tonnes of emergency relief supplies on behalf of the Red Cross, United Nations World Food Programme, CARE, Save the Children and World Vision.
The United Nations estimates that around 1,000 people have been displaced.
