Magnitude 7.0 powerful earthquake rocked Vanuatu at 06:33 am local time Friday morning on April 29, 2016 prompting tsunami warning in the area.
The earthquake occured at 27.2 miles depth with epicenter located just 1 km SE of Norsup.
The National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) warned that the earthquake generate tsunami waves of up to three metres (10 feet) on parts of the Vanuatu coast.
"Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300 km of the epicentre along the coast of Vanuatu," the NTWC said.
NTWC cancelled the tsunami alert in less than two hours, saying "there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake".
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Vanuatu earthquake occurred as a result of thrust faulting on or near the boundary between the Australia and Pacific plates.
The earthquake caused rupture on an east-dipping thrust fault consistent with the location and orientation of the subduction zone interface at depth in this region.
Port Vila of Vanuatu is the top city in the world having the highest risk of natural disasters.
Port Vila of Vanuatu is the top city in the world having the highest risk of natural disasters.
Epicenter Location
1.0 km SE of Norsup, Vanuatu
64.0 km SSE of Luganville, Vanuatu
208.0 km NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
536.0 km N of We, New Caledonia
679.0 km N of Dumbea, New Caledonia