Monday, January 9, 2023
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck 40 km (25 miles) west of Vanuatu’s town of Port-Olry, United States Geological Survey said on Sunday. The earthquake was at a depth of 10 km, USGS said. “Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 meters above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Vanuatu,” said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The US Geological Survey says a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu on Sunday, and a tsunami warning has been issued for possible hazardous waves in nearby waters. The quake was centered 23 kilometers (15 miles) from Port Olry and hit at a depth of 27 kilometers (17 miles), the agency said.
Vanuatu is one of the prime tourist location is a land of volcanoes and magic, underwater ship wrecks, ancient art and dance, waterfalls and blue holes, organic foods and a myriad of hidden bays and beaches. Discover the lush tropical islands, warm turquoise waters, the friendly people, the colours, the culture and the fantastic food. Originally inhabited by people from Melanesia, Vanuatu had its first European settlers in the 19th century. France and the UK claimed some of the land and it was called the New Hebrides until Vanuatu’s independence in 1980. Made up of 83 small islands, the largest island is Espiritu Santo and the capital Port Vila is found on the island of Efate.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for coasts located within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Vanuatu is home to about 280,000 people and is prone to natural disasters, with a half-dozen active volcanoes as well as regular cyclones and earthquakes. It sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanoes are common.
Tags: earthquake, Oceania, Vanuatu
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
