A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Vanuatu early Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake’s epicentre was located approximately 204 kilometres (127 miles) west-northwest of Port-Olry, a coastal settlement in the island nation.
The USGS reported that the tremor occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) beneath the Earth’s surface.
Vanuatu lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, a region frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates.
There were no immediate details in the report regarding casualties, damage or a possible tsunami threat.