The rescue efforts continued during the evening and night, local time, but the operations were hampered by the extensive material damage that had affected the island nation.
Strong aftershocks also hit Vanuatu, which consists of around 80 islands and has a population of approximately 330,000 inhabitants.
One of the buildings that was damaged housed the American, British, French, and New Zealand embassies. The ground floor was crushed when the upper floors collapsed.
It no longer exists. It's completely flat, said resident Michael Thompson to AFP over the phone.
The earthquake, which also triggered landslides, was recorded three miles west of Vanuatu's capital Port Vila just before 3 am on Tuesday morning Swedish time.
New Zealand and Australia have offered emergency assistance and relief efforts to Vanuatu.
