A tsunami warning was issued for the Pacific nation of Vanuatu by the US Geological Survey after it was hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Sunday.
According to the agency, the quake was centered 23 kilometers (15 mi) from Port Olary and occurred at a depth of 27 kilometers (17 mi). In turn the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat for locations near the Vanuatu coast.
Meanwhile, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Vanuatu is home to about 280,000 people and is prone to natural disasters with half a dozen active volcanoes as well as regular cyclones and earthquakes. It is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanoes are common.
(with inputs from AP)
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