Earthquake of 7.0-magnitude jolts Vanuatu, tsunami warning issued

An earthquake of7.0-magnitude struck off the coast from the pacific country of Vanuatu on Sunday (January 8), according to the United State Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS said the earthquake hit 27 kilometres deep, putting it about 25 kilometres from the village of Port-Orly.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning for coasts located within 300 kilometres of the epicentre, a report by news agency Associated Press said. There are no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.

Home to280,000 people, Vanuatu has been prone to natural disasterswith a half-dozen active volcanoes as well as cyclones and earthquakes on a regular basis.The country is part of thePacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide, and it experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

Sunday's earthquake comes afterSoloman Islands was hit by a7.0-magnitude earthquake on November 22 last year. No injuries or deaths were reported. According to the USGS, the earthquake's epicentre was in the ocean about 35 kilometres southwest of the capital city of Honiara at a depth of 13 kilometres.

(With inputs from agencies)

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