sydney: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the Pacific nation of Vanuatu late Sunday, the US Geological Survey said, issuing a tsunami warning for the region.
The shallow quake occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time (1230 GMT) at a depth of about 27 kilometers (17 miles) and was located about 25 kilometers from the village of Port-Olry, according to the USGS. .
Hawaii’s NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said: “On some coasts of Vanuatu, tsunamis could reach 0.3 to 1 meter above sea level.
New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands could experience waves of less than 0.3 meters, he added.
Vanuatu is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates collide and is frequent in earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The Solomon Islands, a neighboring island nation just north of Vanuatu, was hit by a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake in November, but there were no reports of serious injuries or major structural damage.
Witnesses reported violent shaking, with objects thrown to the ground and power lost in parts of the capital Honiara.
Coastal areas of Vanuatu and neighboring Papua New Guinea were put on alert for tsunamis up to 30 centimeters (12 inches). -AFPMore
