7.2 magnitude earthquake jolts Vanuatu | WPN World People News

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on the early morning of May 28. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the surrounding island countries. There are no reports of injury or property damage at this moment.

It was reported that the quake struck at 4:14 A.M. local time; the epic center was 224 kilometers northwest of Luganville, at a depth of 36 kilometers. Half an hour after the initial quake, two strong 5.7 and 5.2 magnitude aftershocks were recorded, both at a depth of 35 kilometers. According to the tsunami warning center, an earthquake this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami in the nearby areas, but the warning was in effect for the region only and would not expand to other regions of the Pacific.

Vanuatu, with an area of 11,880 square kilometers, is composed of a chain of more than 80 islands, over 1400 miles northeast of Sydney.