6.9-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Vanuatu, Followed by 6.3-Magnitude Tremor

By Staff, Agencies

A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Vanuatu early Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey [USGS].

The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 197 kilometers [122 miles] west-northwest of Port-Olry, at a depth of 10 kilometers [6.2 miles], the agency reported.

A second earthquake, measuring magnitude 6.3, was subsequently recorded at 02:35 GMT, approximately 170 kilometers [106 miles] northwest of Port-Olry. The tremor also occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers [6.2 miles].

The USGS assigned the second earthquake a green alert level, indicating light shaking and a lower assessed impact.

Further information on potential damage, casualties or other effects from the earthquakes was not immediately available.