7.1 earthquake strikes near Vanuatu

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: Reuters/stuff.co.nz

A strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia On Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage and a local official said that a tsunami was not expected.

The quake's epicentre was 136 km southwest of Isangel in Vanuatu and 147 km north-east of Tadine, in the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, the USGS said in a bulletin. The quake was 26 km deep.

"Based on all of the local analytical data, a tsunami is not expected within Vanuatu," an official for the Vanuatu Meteorological Services told Reuters by telephone from the capital, Port Vila.

Read more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/4986600/7-1-earthquake-strikes-near-Vanuatu

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. aftershocks...

Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands : aftershocks of M4.5 or greater
M 5.3 2011/05/10 14:07 Depth 41.2 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 5.0 2011/05/10 12:07 Depth 20.5 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 5.3 2011/05/10 12:00 Depth 21.7 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 5.5 2011/05/10 10:44 Depth 35.4 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 5.5 2011/05/10 10:44 Depth 35.4 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 5.2 2011/05/10 10:37 Depth 35.2 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 5.7 2011/05/10 10:24 Depth 35.8 km LOYALTY ISLANDS
M 4.9 2011/05/10 10:14 Depth 35.3 km LOYALTY ISLANDS

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. downgraded to 6.8

little damage reported, no injuries, 3 inch local tsunami warning, strong aftershocks to continue and gradually decrease.