Vanuatu, Archipelago – A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the Vanuatu archipelago in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS reported that the epicenter was located approximately 56 kilometers northeast of the small village of Port Oleri on Espiritu Santo Island. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 188 kilometers.
The absence of casualties and the lack of tsunami warnings
As of now, there have been no official reports of casualties or damage from the earthquake. Similarly, Vanuatu’s Department of Natural Disasters confirmed that no tsunami warning has been issued.
Ring of Fire and Exposure to Natural Disasters
Vanuatu is a low-lying archipelago located geographically on the seismically active “Ring of Fire.” This ring is an arc of intense tectonic activity that stretches across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean basin. According to annual global hazard reports, Vanuatu is among the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters. These disasters include earthquakes, storms, floods, and tsunamis.
