Powerful earthquake hits Vanuatu

April 29, 201610:01am

The 7.3 magnitude earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the island nation. Picture: Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Liz Burkenews.com.au@lizeburke

VANUATU has been hit by a powerful earthquake, bringing with it the threat of tsunami waves.

The quake was assigned a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale, with a depth of over 10km.
The blast hit around 95km from the island town of Santo, triggering a tsunami warning for coastal areas within 300km of the epicentre.
The Bureau of Meteorology has said there is no threat to Australia, some 3000km away.

The earthquake hit close to Luganville, Vanuatu. Picture: USGSSource:Supplied

The island nation is still recovering from cyclone Pam, which devastated several island and killed an estimated 16 people.
A spokesman from Vanuatu’s Bauerfield International Airport in the capital of Port Vila told stuff.co.nz the quake did not feel major.