Great
Earthquakes In Diverse Places
6.0-magnitude Earthquake strikes off Vanuatu
* From correspondents in Port Vila
* From: AFP
* September 12, 2011 11:48AM
A SHALLOW 6.0-magnitude earthquake has hit off the coast of
Vanuatu, the US Geological Survey says, but there has been no
tsunami warning issued.
The quake struck at a depth of just one kilometre, about 60
kilometres southwest of the capital Port Vila today.
"It was very shallow and produced a lot of surface water activity,
but no tsunami," said a GeoScience Australia seismologist, adding
that it would have been felt in Port Vila but damage was unlikely
unless structures were weak.
It follows a series of recent quakes near Vanuatu including two of
7.0 magnitude or higher in the past month.
"Over 40 quakes this year have been recorded in the area southwest
of Port Vila and this would be an aftershock from those," said the
seismologist.