Vanuatu holds snap election a month after destructive earthquake

Vanuatu has voted in a snap election amidst the upheaval of a destructive earthquake that struck this South Pacific island nation last month. Prime Minister Charlot Salwai opted in November to call an election two years early rather than risk a no-confidence vote in his divided coalition government. Polls were open for nine hours on Thursday in this population of 330,000 people. Counting will likely continue for days. A powerful 7.3 magnitude quake struck off the coast on Dec. 17, killing 14 and injuring many more. Damage was concentrated in the capital Port Vila, where the United Nations said more 1,000 residents were displaced.