Associated Press 23 jan 2006
SYDNEY, Australia – A powerful magnitude-6.2 earthquake shook the South Pacific today near Vanuatu, but there are no reports of injuries or damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at Ewa Beach, Hawaii, says the quake could cause a localized tsunami but ruled out a Pacific-wide tsunami.
New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Paul Willis, says the quake was ``short and sharp’’ but he isn’t aware of any damage.
Vanuatu is an 80-island archipelago located about 2,200 kilometres northeast of Sydney, Australia.
A volcano on one of the country’s islands began erupting in November after a 10-year slumber, causing thousands of residents to flee to makeshift camps.