SYDNEY (AFP) — A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck off the south Pacific island of Vanuatu on Friday, but there was no immediate tsunami warning or reports of casualties, seismologists said.
The quake struck at 6:19 pm (0719 GMT), 320 kilometres (195 miles) north of the capital Port Vila, the US Geological Survey said.
The quake was registered at a depth of 35 kilometres.
Two aftershocks with magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.3 struck roughly the same spot in the next half-hour.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii did not issue a tsunami alert for the region.
Vanuatu sits on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.
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