Officials say a 7.3 magnitude quake which struck off the coast of Vanuatu did not trigger a tsunami, clearing concerns of potential damage to the island nation.
The powerful earthquake occurred around 46 kilometres from Vanuatu’s Port Orly – an island popular for its white sand beaches and underwater activities.
The tremor is believed to have been felt from as far as Norfolk Island. So far, there’s no report of the extend of damage to Vanuatu.
Despite the severity of the shake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said it doesn’t expect a subsequent tsunami.
#EMSC#Sismo mb 4.7 #Vanuatu 2015-10-20 22:31:08.3 UTC Prof. 121 km pic.twitter.com/V4MDK3UecP
— Juan Cigala (@juanito_cigala) October 20, 2015
Aftershocks are expected, however, they’re likely to be less violent than the main quake and may not be felt by Vanuatu’s residents.
Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) told KarryOn in an email that initial reports state there has been no major damage or injuries.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has not altered its travel advice for the destination and flights to Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo are operating as normal.
This is the second natural disaster to hit the islands this year and follows on from March’s category five Cyclone Pam.
This page will be updated as more information comes to hand.
