World

Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Reported in Vanuatu

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the island of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean early Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey is reporting.

The quake hit a few minutes before 4 a.m. local time. It was centered 38 miles southwest of the town of Port-Vila and had a relatively shallow depth of 25.2 miles, according to the USGS.

Reuters:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the major quake had not triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami but said: “Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometers (80 miles) of the earthquake epicenter.”

There was no immediate information of any damage or casualties, but when on land quakes of this magnitude can cause widespread and heavy damage.

The quake was followed by a weaker aftershock of magnitude 5.9 some 20 minutes later.

The Vanuatu archipelago is located on the so-called “Ring of Fire,” one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Port-Vila is the capital of Vanuatu and has an estimated population of 40,000 people.

No other details were immediately available.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated since it was first published.

Comments (53)

  • loadingmyclips
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:17am

    how about a MAP!! Where the hell is this place?!?!?!?!?!

    Report Post » loadingmyclips  
    • robstoddard
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 9:10am

      If you go from Papua New Guinea (the big island that Australia’s “finger” points at) and follow the island chain south and east, there’s the Solomon Sea with the Solomon Islands directly to the north of it. After that, there’s a rather large island called New Caledonia, and to the north east of that, an island chain called Vanuatu. If you strike directly east of Vanuatu, the first island you’ll reach is Fiji. The actual quake happened on an island called Efate. There is no island called Vanuatu; that’s the name of the island chain and the country.

      Report Post » robstoddard  
    • ourrightsourfreedom
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:09pm

      A very small islands in the Pacific. Part of Melanesian & the Polynesian islands. Beautiful place.

      Report Post » ourrightsourfreedom  
    • WalkSoft
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 4:55pm

      Read and look….link it says REPORTING…click then click MAP……..Wake up Vote Smart! Thanks Madeleine Morgenstern

      Report Post » WalkSoft  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:49pm

    All this is the beginning of the birth pains

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
    • wolfinsheepsclothing
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:28pm

      We have already passed birth pains. We are at the point of talons clenching yet the Phoenix has not yet taken flight. It will be soon but there are a few other things that will happen first.

      Report Post »  
    • Tretka
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:48am

      What are you waiting on??

      Report Post » Tretka  
    • wolfinsheepsclothing
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 10:49pm

      Well personally I don’t think politically we have seen the worst of it yet, definately haven‘t seen the worst of the fighting in the streets and I pray we don’t here in the states but I am surprised we haven’t seen more. There is a new day coming based on science or faith but it’s a comin. And its gotta be super ugly first. And as mad as this world is becoming……..

      Report Post »  
  • stang289
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:34pm

    http://www.youtube.com/user/dutchsinse#p/u/1/3UgtfDhwguc

    Report Post » stang289  
  • jolene2
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:21pm

    I think a student interviewed on national television stated she was here getting her college degree she said I’m illegal and unafraid. That’s because our President has made it so easy for her and millions of other illegals to take advantage of every social program offered by our government intended for U S CITIZENS. Not illegal aliens

    Report Post »  
  • fliptailhunter
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:01pm

    100klm =60mls

    Report Post » fliptailhunter  
  • fliptailhunter
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:59pm

    100 klm = 60mls

    Report Post » fliptailhunter  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:40pm

    Here comes another excuse for obama’s supposed “recovery”.
    We were doin’ fine again…right up til the big quake in uh ….venezuela…umm..Valenzuela…uh Juan Peron…wherever.

    Report Post »  
  • Molalla912
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:26pm

    Pore Al Gore . he just can’t catch a break one of his favorite proof of global warming places was this Island N. E. of Australia that was sinking yes it really was Sinking That fact was proved a (Sinking Island) Not a tipping over one. The problem with this sinking Island was that it sits on the subduction zone of a fault line. Over the past 3 years I have been watching this Island just to see what was going on with it, This area has had a rash of Earth quakes; And every time there’s a quake the Island pops back up a little. It’s in the news again (Earth quake on the island of vanuatu) I wonder if Al will retract his statements about this Island being flooded because of Global warming.
    (I’m Not going to hold my breath for that one)

    Report Post » Molalla912  
  • Jim in Houston
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:02pm

    Shoot, I thought it might be close the Maratha’s Vineyard.

     
    • grandma7
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:17pm

      Funny
      :@}

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:29pm

      Two 7.0 magnitude earthquakes occur in west Pacific!

      http://www.youtube.com/user/dutchsinse

      If you want to see what is actually happening around the world, follow Dutch on his youtube site…he is amazing…earthquakes, tornadoes, storm fronts…he keeps up with the HAARPs and the Scalars…geo-engineering…

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • yiddishlion
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:41pm

      The words shoot, and Martha‘s Vineyard in the same sentence just tripped Homeland Securities’ computers. Expect a knock at your ………hold on……..someone’s at the door……..

      Report Post » yiddishlion  
    • ILUVAMERICA
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:36pm

      @ AzDebi
      A BIG Thank you to you,
      I will be watchiing him
      Thanks again!

      Report Post » ILUVAMERICA  
  • 1TrueOne55
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:56pm

    It is too late to impeach him and even if he was the Prince Harry Reid will not accept the charges. So our only recourse is to vote him out of Office and then fumigate the White House from all the Czars and Czarinas that have stunk up the place.

    Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
  • Stu D. Baker-Hawk
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:06pm

    If nobody has said it yet, here goes… “It‘s Bush’s fault!”

    Report Post »  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:01pm

      It was Palin!

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • Molalla912
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:04pm

      Maybe the people were all on one side of the island
      and that’s what caused it (Like Guam) you know it was in
      danger of tipping over. Because of the air force base
      having to many people on it.

      Report Post » Molalla912  
  • catmman
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:38pm

    Mother Nature continues effing over Obama on the economy…

    Report Post »  
  • J.C. McGlynn
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:32pm

    OOOHHHHHHHH NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s man caused catastrophic climate change. We have to stop man-caused catastrophic climate change.

    Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
  • saintjock
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:43pm

    there was a 7.3 one year and ten days ago in the same place.

    Report Post » saintjock  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:37pm

    God help these people caught up in the quake and keep any harm from coming in the future due to more such activity or for any volcanos in the region of the ring of fire to not become active.
    http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (cat folk gallery)

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Mateytwo Barreett
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:23pm

    Anybody see the headline on Drudge?

    Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:20pm

    I hope there are no injuries

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:15pm

    Great. Another excuse.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
  • johnsell
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:11pm

    These quakes are only a precursor of the one coming for Obama in 2012…………..

    Report Post »  
  • Wyatt's Torch
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:58pm

    Someone knock the POTUS off of his girl’s bike and tell him!

    Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
    • kindling
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:07pm

      OH, he will only use it as an excuse for his failings. He really needs to be impeached NOW!

      Report Post » kindling  
  • ScreaminEagle
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:55pm

    Americans have got to learn to have a sense of humor.

    Report Post » ScreaminEagle  
    • RIGHTHOOK
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:25pm

      Screamer – We have a a keen sense of humor but at this crossroads and everything that stands for the integrity of the Constitution, economy and freedom in general is at risk. Now is when we need a sense of urgency. The humor will have its place when the timing warrants a good laugh and believe me, I could use a good laugh right now! No laughing matter pal.

      Report Post » RIGHTHOOK  
  • felix
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:54pm

    Obumbler will blame the economy on this quake also

    Report Post »  
  • michael48
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:52pm

    Get ready for a TELE-TANTRUM from the “LUSH in CHARGE”….bad luck’s FAULT…all these things …never in the 4 1/2 billion history of Earth has such “LUCK” happened…it’s Bushes, Congress, GOP, Dem-WITS Par-ta, Japan Tsunami, and Elvis’s …uh…uh…uh… Tee Time???NO???… oh goody, my new swing set is here….

    Report Post »  
  • rpbgfox
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:49pm

    Becker88, That would be, justice! Justice is rarely funny

    Report Post » rpbgfox  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:34pm

    i really must work on my targeting system i keep aiming for california, but it keeps missing

    back to the drawing board

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • drbage
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:37pm

      Follow the O team and aim for Europe and you’ll probably get California–just make sure that Pope Pelosi is in residence.

      Report Post »  
    • becker88
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:40pm

      That is not funny but it kind of is.

      http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:49pm

      Now, if we can just shake up Washington, we might have something. A 9.0 Impeachment might work.

      Report Post »  

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