Earthquake measuring 7.2 hits off VanuatuNOAAA major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 has struck off the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The quake struck about 535km southeast of Vanuatu on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, briefly triggering a local tsunami warning. The tsunami warning, which had included coastal areas of Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji, including the Fijian capital, Suva, was later cancelled. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for areas close to the quake, although there was no Pacific-wide threat of a tsunami, the Hawaii-based centre said. The powerful quake triggered at least one aftershock, with a magnitude of 5.4, the USGS said.

Source: Stuff August 12, 2016 01:50 UTC