Vanuatu holds snap election a month after destructive earthquake

Vanuatuheld a snap general election on Thursday after Prime Minister Charlot Salwai’s decision to go to the polls two years early rather than risk a no-confidence vote in his divided coalition government.

The election is being held amidst the destructive of last month’s powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of the South Pacific island nation on Dec. 17, killing 14 and injuring many more. Damage was concentrated in…