SYDNEY, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 148 Australians returned home from Vanuatu on Thursday by the air force after a deadly earthquake hit the Pacific island nation.

The 148 citizens returned home on Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flights that landed in Australia in the early hours of Thursday morning local time, two days after the 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu's capital of Port Vila.

Authorities had confirmed a death toll of 14, saying it is expected to increase after the earthquake caused landslides and widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The RAAF on Wednesday flew a 64-member Disaster Assistance Response Team and two canines to Port Vila to aid ongoing search and rescue efforts for people believed to be trapped under rubble.

A six-person Australian Medical Assistance Team was also deployed.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday night that Australia stands ready to provide further assistance in Vanuatu's time of need.

More than 200 people were treated for injuries and local police said that triage tents were set up outside Port Vila's hospital to manage the influx of patients.

UNICEF said that an estimated 40,000 children were in need of humanitarian assistance.

A local surgeon, Basil Leodoro, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the recovery effort would likely take years. Enditem

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