6.1-magnitude quake strikes off Vanuatu: USGS

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu today, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no immediate tsunami warning issued.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no immediate tsunami warning issued.

HT Image

The quake struck at a depth of 59 kilometres, around 160 kilometres south of the capital Port Vila.

It follows a series of quakes in recent weeks including one of magnitude 7.5 on August 21 and one of magnitude 7.0 on Sunday.

Vanuatu lies on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a zone of frequent seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.