Magnitude-7.2 earthquake hits Pacific but no tsunami threat
Posted August 11, 2016 11:26 pm.
Last Updated August 12, 2016 12:00 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A strong magnitude-7.2 earthquake struck Friday in the Pacific Ocean near the island nations of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, but authorities said there was no threat of a tsunami.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake hit Friday afternoon 109 kilometres (68 miles) east of New Caledonia’s Hunter Island, at a depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles).
After reviewing the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it didn’t pose a tsunami threat.
The region sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common.
