Emotional moment Aussie families are reunited after escaping the carnage of Vanuatu where a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck leaving the holiday island in ruin

A second plane full of Aussies has been stranded in Vanuatu after a deadly magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the Pacific island nation and is back on home soil.

Dozens of passengers landed at Brisbane International Airport on Thursday evening after an emergency Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight was sent to the region to bring more holidaymakers home.

Families with young children and teenagers were among those stranded on the island, anxiously waiting for a way home.

The plane took off from Port Vila and arrived in the Queensland capital a day after 148 fellow Australians flew home.

Photos showed travelers disembarking from the plane, happy to finally be home.

They entered the airport terminal where they were greeted by loved ones and the waiting media.

Gold Coast mother Chantel Bastock thanked the federal government for organizing the last-minute flight.

“We are home… we are safe, thank you to the Australian Defense Force, we love you,” she said.

Some travelers were seen thanking the plane’s crew members by shaking their hands.

The earthquake, which struck at 12.47pm on Tuesday, struck an area 30km west of Port Vila, causing several buildings in the bustling tourist hotspot to collapse.

At least 14 people have been killed and 116,000 civilians are reported to have been affected by the natural disaster. Authorities expect the death toll to rise.

So far no Australians have been killed in the earthquake

According to the Red Cross, at least 200 people were injured in the disaster.

Photos from the scene showed a trail of destruction, with several buildings razed by the impact of the earthquake.

Several cars were crushed under the weight of the collapsed structures.

Local residents reported on social media that they were shaking violently for about 30 seconds.

Communications were also affected at the time, affecting several government agencies as they tried to assess the extent of the damage.

An Australian traveler returning home on Thursday evening recalled the terrifying moment chaos ensued after the earthquake struck.

‘[I watched] buildings are falling around me and people [started] screaming and running and I had no idea what to do,” he said.

The runway at Vanuatu International Airport has been cleared but will remain closed to commercial traffic for 72 hours to prioritize relief and medivac flights.

The federal government has deployed 64 members of the Disaster Assistance Response Team to assist with search and rescue operations and provide essential healthcare services.

Members of other government agencies, including the Australian Medical Assistance Team, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the National Emergency Management Agency, have also been deployed.

A $2 million rescue and relief package will also be delivered.

Vanuatu’s interim Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has declared a state of emergency and a seven-day curfew has been imposed on areas most affected.

DFAT is providing consular assistance to Australians in the disaster-affected region.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government would continue to provide further assistance to Vanuatu.

“We extend our deepest condolences following this terrible tragedy,” Minister Wong said in a statement.

“My message to the people of Vanuatu is that Australia is here to help. This immediate support package will ensure those in urgent need receive life-saving help.”

Geoscience Australia recorded a second earthquake earlier on Wednesday, with the agency reporting a magnitude of 6.0 at a depth of 72 km.