WELLINGTON — Vanuatu's capital was without water on Wednesday, a day after reservoirs were destroyed by a violent 7.3-magnitude earthquake that wreaked havoc on the South Pacific island nation, with the number of people killed and injured expected to rise.

The government's disaster management office said on Wednesday that 14 deaths were confirmed, but hours later said nine had been verified by the country's main hospital. The number was 'expected to increase' as people remained trapped in fallen buildings, a spokesman said. About 200 have been treated for injuries.