Strong 6.5 magnitude quake strikes Vanuatu: seismologists

Sydney: A strong 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The shallow quake hit 77 kilometres (48 miles) northwest of the nation's capital Port Vila at 1:48pm (0248 GMT) at a depth of 26.6 kilometres, the USGS said. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Vanuatu is on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," which on Friday saw a 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami strike off the coast of Japan, causing devastation.