JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A Jacksonville Beach man recently lived through a series of scary earthquakes in Vanuatu, a country made up of a group of islands not far from Australia.
Alex Pippins said it is something he will never forget.
“We were going to the airport every day just trying to see when it would be open because they were wanting commercial flights were not in, and they were only letting military and humanitarian flights in. They didn’t even have power up until Saturday,” Pippins said.
Over a meal, Pippins shared his story, describing Vanuatu as a laid-back and happy community. But the destruction left by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Dec. 17, which was followed by another earthquake less than 24 hours later, painted a heartbreaking reality. An estimated 80,000 people were affected.
As he showed cell phone footage, the reality of the disaster became clear. One video captured a building crumbling to its foundation. Another photo showed a crane at his job site amid the devastation.
“It was a very violent event,” Pippins said. “But yeah, there’s some good that comes from it. You see everyone band together and try to do good with one another and rise you up.”
The impact of the quake has been staggering. Pippins estimated the death toll to have risen to 50, with thousands left homeless.
One story that struck Pippins deeply was about a co-worker who lost a child.
“Our plumbers on site had a baby that passed away,” he said. “He was on an incubator at the hospital and then it lost power. Basically, it ended up suffocating.”
Despite the tragedy, Pippins is doing what he can to help. He started a GoFundMe to support families affected by the quake. The funds will go directly to those in need, helping them rebuild their lives. Here is the link to contribute.
Looking ahead, Pippins says recovery will be a long process.
“It’s been very devastating for the ones, and then everyone that’s left there is just kind of traumatizing, just trying to rebuild the community,” he said.
Back home in Jacksonville Beach, Pippins plans to spend time with family, golf, and hunt this weekend. But his thoughts remain with the people of Vanuatu, as he continues to pray for their recovery and support their rebuilding efforts.