6.5-magnitude quake hits off Vanuatu

Sydney (AFP) – A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific nation of Vanuatu Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said.

The USGS reported that the quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) about 149 kilometres from Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami.

A second, smaller 5.1 magnitude quake hit the same area about 20 minutes later, the USGS said.

Vanuatu is part of the “Ring of Fire”, a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific that experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The South Pacific island was jolted by a powerful 6.8-magnitude tremor in late January, but there were no reports of damage.

In 2013 the neighbouring Solomon Islands were struck by a tsunami after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the region. The tsunami killed least 10 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands of people homeless.