A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was centred about 56 kilometres northeast of Port Olry, a small coastal village in Vanuatu, and originated at a depth of 188 kilometres below the surface.
No immediate damage or casualties were reported after the earthquake. Vanuatu’s natural disaster authorities also did not immediately issue a tsunami warning. The country is prone to earthquakes because it lies in the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, an area stretching from Southeast Asia to the Pacific basin where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.
The Vanuatu tremor followed powerful earthquakes in Colombia and Indonesia. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia early Saturday and was followed by more than 100 aftershocks, killing 51 people. In western Colombia, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake on Monday caused extensive damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure around Cali, Pereira and nearby areas. The reported death toll there has reached about 290, with 140 people missing and around 4,000 injured.