Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Strikes Pacific Ocean Off Vanuatu, Tsunami Warning Issued

Port Vila: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck waters near the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Saturday, prompting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning, though no casualties or property damage had been reported so far.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit about 200 km (124 miles) west of Sola, the main town of Vanuatu’s Torba province, at a depth of 10 km. The shallow depth is a factor in how strongly an earthquake can be felt and in whether it can generate a tsunami. The tremor was recorded around 2.31 am GMT, according to the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, which initially reported a slightly lower magnitude of 7.1 with the epicentre in the sea west of the islands.

Early monitoring reports pointed to two major tremors within seconds of each other, though it was unclear whether they were two separate earthquakes or preliminary readings of a single event. Russian outlet TASS reported that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also issued a tsunami warning. There was no immediate information on damage to buildings, disruption to services or whether any waves were observed. Because the epicentre was offshore and west of the islands, the effects on populated areas were not yet clear.

Vanuatu sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity where tectonic plates collide, and is regularly hit by strong earthquakes. Local authorities are expected to issue updates as assessments continue.