Magnitude-6.9 Quake Strikes Near Vanuatu in South Pacific

The quake was initially measured at a magnitude of 7.2 but later revised down to 6.9

Officials wound back an initial tsunami threat issued after a large earthquake near Vanuatu in the South Pacific early Sunday morning, NBC News reported. The quake was initially measured at a magnitude of 7.2 but later revised down to 6.9.

"Based on all data available ... the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now mostly passed," the center said in a statement.

The quake struck at a depth of 21 miles at 4:23 a.m. ET, about 48 miles west southwest of Sola, Vanuatu, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Earthquakes are common in the area and even large tremors often cause no tsunamis. A magnitude 7.3 quake struck off Vanuatu in October and a 6.3 quake struck in December without causing any damage.

 
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